Debate on age, health of prez hopefuls needless – George Loh

The Deputy Chairman of the Parliamentary Select Committee on Constitutional and Legal Affairs, George Loh, has said the debate on the ages and publication of health statuses of presidential hopefuls ahead of the November 7 elections are not necessary.

According to him, what Ghanaians must look out for is a candidate who has the ability to deliver good policies and also ensure prosperity for the country.

His take is contrary to assertions by the flagbearer of the All People’s Congress (APC), Hassan Ayariga, who thinks flagbearers who are 70 and above do not have the strength to go through physically-demanding campaign activities ahead of the November 7 polls, adding that even if any of them eventually wins the elections, governance will be a daunting task.

Mr Ayariga told Prince Minkah, host of Executive Breakfast Show on Class 91.3 FM on Tuesday, “Dr Edward Mahama [flagbearer of the PNC] himself knows that he and Nana Akufo-Addo [flagbearer of the NPP] have a disadvantage in terms of their strength: they will not have the ability to move around the country to campaign.”

He added that the late President John Mills, who died on the seat, lost his life because he did not have the necessary strength to perform all the activities he needed to perform as a president.

But Mr Loh, in an interview with Emefa Apawu on Class News’ 505 programme on Tuesday May 10, disagreed with Mr Ayariga’s comments by stating that these were not important issues for discussion at this time in the election year.

“We need to be talking about who has better policies for the country or who can be trusted, not this kind of debate,” he said, adding that: “There are more important things to talk about.”

The National Chairman of the Conventions People’s Party, Professor Edmund Delle, agreed with Mr Loh by stating that the health condition of flagbearers are confidential matters, which should be disclosed only to the persons themselves.

He told Emefa that anybody seeking to disclose the health status of another person should do so within the full remit of the law, adding that even with that process; doctors will still hesitate in disclosing such information.

“Health conditions are confidential matters,” for which no other person should know apart from the persons themselves, he emphasised.