Irresponsible military rule cause of Ebola in W/A - Boakye-Gyan

A former spokesperson of the defunct Armed Forces Revolutionary Council, (AFRC), Major Boakye Gyan (retired) has said years of irresponsible military rule in Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea is the main cause of the Ebola virus disease that has killed thousands of people.

The world's largest outbreak of Ebola has caused 2,800 deaths so far, mainly in Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone with more than 4,500 people affected.

Nigeria, Senegal and DR Congo have recorded some cases but have been far more contained than other affected countries.

However, Boakye-Gyan told Morning Starr host Kafui Dey on Starr 103.5 FM that over 20 years of civil war in those countries have largely contributed to the uncontrollable nature of the outbreak.

“People think that it is a God gift that we don’t have Ebola, but I have a different view. If you look at these countries, DRC, Liberia, Sierra Leone who have been caught in Ebola today; they have all emerged from irresponsible military rule between 20 or more years” Boakye-Gyan said Wednesday.

The former military chief added “during those days, they had the phenomenon with child labour who were fed on weed (Indian hemp) and other things, so their immune systems have all collapsed.

"That is why we (Ghanaians) are not getting Ebola around us because we haven’t gone through that kind of experience."

Boakye-Gyan who was speaking on the 35th anniversary of the swearing-in of Ghana’s 3rd President, Dr. Hilla Liman counseled that even though the current economic conditions are not favourable to Ghanaians, a military intervention will be a wrong choice for the West African nation.