The Spokesperson on Health for the 2024 John Mahama Campaign, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, has dismissed Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia’s promise of free dialysis treatment as a reactionary and unplanned campaign tactic.
The Ranking Member on the Parliamentary Select Committee on Health described the pledge as ’empty, deceptive, and lacking credibility,’ accusing Dr. Bawumia of exploiting healthcare challenges to win political favour ahead of the December elections.
No budgetary support for dialysis pledge
In a recent statement, Akandoh stressed several gaps in the promise made by Dr. Bawumia, including the lack of budgetary allocation or policy framework to implement free dialysis treatment.
“The 2024 National Health Insurance Formula allocates only GH¢2 million to dialysis treatment—a figure added only after the Minority in Parliament insisted on it. Even with this, the funds are grossly inadequate to meet the needs of the 1,200 patients who require dialysis,” Akandoh stated.
According to Akandoh, it costs approximately GH¢8.6 million monthly to provide dialysis treatment for all patients needing three sessions a week.
“Where will Dr. Bawumia find the extra funding to meet this critical shortfall? This pledge is simply a cruel deception to exploit the suffering of Ghanaians,” he added.
Previous healthcare failures undermine credibility
Akandoh pointed to the government’s past failures in healthcare, including the Korle Bu Renal Unit’s closure due to unpaid bills and delayed construction of the La General Hospital after its demolition in 2020.
“How can Ghanaians trust Dr. Bawumia to deliver on this promise when he and his economic management team ignored the plight of kidney patients at Korle Bu last year, leading to the tragic loss of 19 lives,” Akandoh questioned?
A reaction to Mahama’s bold health plan?
Akandoh also accused Dr. Bawumia of copying former President John Mahama’s healthcare initiatives.
According to him, Bawumia’s proposal is a desperate reaction to President Mahama’s well-thought-out plan under the Mahama Cares program, which promises to fund dialysis and cancer treatment comprehensively.
He stated, “If the Bawumia campaign wants to copy the 2024 NDC manifesto, they should respectfully acknowledge the source. Plagiarism is a low standard for a campaign seeking to win the hearts and minds of Ghanaians.”
Call for change
The Juaboso MP called on Ghanaians to hold the government accountable for its track record on healthcare and consider alternatives in the upcoming elections.
“Ghanaians deserve leaders who prioritize their health and well-being, not those who exploit their suffering for political gain.”
“It is time to vote out Dr. Bawumia and this government to end the nightmare of neglect and broken promises,” Akandoh urged.
The NDC, he said, continues to position itself as the party with concrete solutions to Ghana’s pressing medical challenges as the debate over healthcare funding heats up.