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24.07.2021 Politics

Agyemang Manu is Ghana's best health minister ever — Patriotic Youth declares

By Michael Ofosu Afriyie
Agyemang Manu is Ghana's best health minister ever — Patriotic Youth declares
24.07.2021 LISTEN

A youth group calling itself Patriotic Youth Advocates (PYA) has rubbished calls from some sections of the public and civil society groups asking the Health Minister to resign from his position for sidestepping due processes in the procurement of the Sputnik V vaccines.

The Minister during his appearance before the parliamentary committee probing the procurement saga admitted contracting a middleman Sheikh Maktoum to procure the vaccine at US$19 instead of US$10.

In a strong worded statement signed by Nana Kwasi and Asante Kwadwo, spokespersons of PYA, it said the intentions of the Health Minister bears testimony that he wished the best for Ghana when things were difficult.

The group noted that the Health Minister prioritise the health and safety of Ghanaians over procedural measures.

It indicated that, in all his dealings with the Sheikh Maktoum group, the Health Minister was guided by the ethics of his office to secure the lives of Ghanaian citizens first from the marauding virus.

EXPLOITS

The group recounted several measures and far-reaching initiatives the Health Minister since assumption Office in 2017 has been engaged in.

According to the group, in 2017, the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) owed hospitals and service providers on the scheme 13 months of arrears.

Currently, the group noted the NHIA only owes 4 months of arrears to service providers.

Mr Kwaku Agyeman Manu, the group noted worked to restore the nurses training allowance which had been cancelled by the previous NDC government.

ABSENCE OF STRIKE ACTIONS

The group noted the excellent negotiation skills of Mr Agyeman Manu has reversed doctors and nurses agitations and strike actions compared to the previous NDC administration.

The group commended the sector minister for what it claimed as the smooth running of the NHIS system and the deployment of technology for instant renewals and payments.

By this, the group claims the Minister has ensured fraud in the system was curbed.

The group added that the Health Minister has worked to clear the backlog of doctors, nurses and midwives that were due for employment in the health system since 2012.

Mr Kwaku Agyeman Manu, the group recalled has initiated many infrastructure projects including the siting of over 200 CHPS compounds.

He, the group intimated has completed and commissioned several polyclinics and government bungalows for doctors and nurses across the country.

Some of the government hospitals completed and commissioned include the Tepa government hospital in the Ashanti region, Wa government hospital and the Twifo Praso government hospital as well as the completion and commissioning of the Tamale Teaching Hospital.

The Health Minister, the group hinted is the first person to have negotiated and signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Roche Pharmaceutical Company to subsidise drugs including Herceptin for the treatment of breast cancer and other cancers.

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