The Minority in Parliament has called on the Akufo-Addo government to urgently address the rising deaths resulting from the ongoing cholera outbreak in the country.
The diarrheal disease has already claimed lives and continues to spread across multiple regions.
The Caucus urged the government to prevent the outbreak from worsening before the transition to the next administration.
Speaking at a press conference on Friday, December 20, 2024, the Ranking Member on the Parliamentary Select Committee on Health, Hon. Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, stressed the gravity of the situation, revealing that over 2,039 cases were recorded in November alone, with daily updates painting a dire picture.
“Just three days ago, on December 17, the Western Region recorded 123 cases and 15 deaths in a single day. ”
“Even healthcare workers are not spared, with 15 of them infected while caring for patients in the region.”
Akandoh slammed the government for its apparent lack of preparedness and systemic neglect, which he said had exacerbated the outbreak.
“This outbreak, which should have been controlled weeks ago, continues to escalate due to inefficiency and neglect,” he said.
The Minority also raised concerns about inefficiencies in the distribution of critical life-saving logistics donated by the World Health Organization (WHO) on November 28, 2024.
“Instead of swiftly deploying these vital resources to outbreak zones, bureaucratic bottlenecks have hampered effective case management,” Hon. Akandoh lamented.
Many health facilities, he said, are now dependent on corporate organizations and philanthropists for basic supplies like fluids and beddings, describing the situation as “a clear indication of the administration’s failure to prepare for public health emergencies.”
The Minority emphasized the need for immediate interventions, including resource allocation, public education, and healthcare worker support, to contain the cholera outbreak and resulting deaths.
He called on the Health Promotion Unit of the Ghana Health Service to activate a robust public awareness campaign on cholera prevention as a matter of urgency.
He implored President Akufo-Addo to fulfill his responsibilities during the transitional period stating, “Ghanaian lives matter. The President must act decisively to curb this outbreak and not abdicate his responsibilities.”
The Minority warned that failure to act swiftly could lead to a full-blown cholera epidemic before the incoming administration assumes office
Akandoh cautioned that the gross dereliction of duty that contributed to the NPP’s electoral misfortune must not be compounded by inaction in addressing this public health emergency.
The Minority reiterated the importance of public education in preventing cholera, calling on citizens to practice good hygiene and sanitation while urging authorities to intensify community-level awareness campaigns.