The humane side of Mahama at play

Many years ago, luck was not our best ally, we woke up to the news of a gory accident on the Tamale-Kintampo stretch of road in the then Brong Ahafo Region where over 60 people died.

H.E. John Dramani Mahama was the President of the Republic at the time. He visited the survivors of the accident who were injured and receiving treatment at the Kintampo Government Hospital and other neighbouring medical facilities. He donated some provisions and cash for the welfare of the victims.

Few days after his visit, I decided to make a follow-up to the hospitals to find out how the victims were faring. And I shed tears over the kind of testimonies that I heard.

The first came from a hospital worker. She told me they never had a prior notice to the President's visit, and so were caught unawares. The worker told me that she was touched by the humility of the Commander-in-Chief of the Ghana Army. She said while they were moving around like headless chickens to look for a befitting chair for the President, His Excellency opted for a common chair used by visitors of the facility.

This is what an injured victim of the accident has to say: "I feel so well, after the President's visit. It was heartwarming for a whole president of the nation to shake hands with me and give me words of encouragement. This is awesome! I have to walk out of this hospital without thinking of any bill, because it has been taken care of by the President."

Then came the testimony of a mother of one of the accident victims also responding to treatment. She said that the items given to her son by President Mahama are enough to open a provision shop!

The above comments remind me of Job's remarks in Job 29:11-16: "Whoever heard me, spoke well of me, and those who saw me commended me, I rescued the poor who cried for help, and the fatherless who had none to assist them. The one who was dying blessed me, I made the widow's heart sing...I was eyes to the blind and feet to the lame. I was a father to the needy; I took up the case of the stranger.

Anthony Obeng Afrane