The Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, has cautioned Members of Parliament against politicising Ghana’s economic and healthcare challenges, warning that economic decline often results in serious and irreversible human consequences.
His remarks followed a statement on the floor by the Member of Parliament for Offinso North, Fred Kyei Asamoah, who addressed the reported death of Charles Amissah, a hit-and-run victim said to have been turned away by three major hospitals before his death.
In his submission, Asamoah stressed that no circumstance should justify the loss of life and referenced a comment by former President Nana Akufo-Addo: “We know how to bring back the economy, but we don’t know how to bring back lives.”
Speaker Bagbin, however, urged lawmakers to avoid partisan comparisons or revisiting past administrations, noting that no government in Ghana’s history has operated a flawless emergency response system.
“Don’t go into those issues because there is no government that has come to govern this country and all ambulances are working and running at all times,” he said, adding that even under the administration referenced, similar challenges persisted. He further described the quoted remark as incorrect.
The Speaker also underscored the close link between economic stability and public welfare.
“Please, when you lose an economy, you lose lives. You don’t know that? So when you say you are bringing back the economy, you know how to bring back economy, but you don’t know how to bring back lives,” he stated.
He warned that economic downturns often carry permanent human costs, stressing that once lives are lost due to systemic failures, they cannot be restored.
Speaker Bagbin concluded by urging MPs to focus on addressing the country’s immediate challenges rather than engaging in political point-scoring. “Please, let’s address the issue, what is confronting us now, and stop the politics,” he said.
Source:
oyerepafmonline.com
