A Deputy Minister of Information, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa has cleared the air regarding President John Evans Atta Mills’ deeply darkened palms which have sparked a raging debate in some media circles.

Various newspapers and a section of the Ghanaian populace have read all kinds of meaning into President Mills’ black palms. Whiles some have alleged that it is as a result of perhaps a debilitating sickness, others conjecture that it is a cream he applied given to him by Temitope Balogun Joshua, popularly referred to as T. B. Joshua, founder of The Synagogue Church of All Nations (SCOAN).

Speaking in an interview with Fiifi Banson, host of Peace FM’s late afternoon show “Ekwanso Brebre”, the deputy Minister assured Ghanaians that there is nothing medically wrong with the President. According to him, President Mills’ darkened palm is as a result of a reaction to a medication he took, adding that doctors have confirmed it is the normal reaction people experience when they take certain medications.

“The president’s palms are black because he reacted to some medication that he takes and if you talk to doctors, they will confirm to you that we all react in different forms depending on what medication you take. We can assure the good people of this country that there is nothing serious that is affecting the president, and it is just the little reaction which has even reduce compared to two weeks ago. Doctors have assured him that they didn’t know he will react that way to the medication,” he explained.

“I have seen it and when I inquired about it, he explained to me that he took a medication and he reacted that negatively. His doctor was quite worried but he told him it doesn’t matter. Some people take some medication and the reaction worsens their cases and they are sometimes hospitalized, but this was quite a minimal reaction,” he added.

According to him, the doctors had no idea the president would react that negatively to the use of the medication. He, however, declined to disclose the specific medication the president is taking, saying it will be unfair to publicly reveal the First Gentleman’s medical history.

“The doctors did not know that he will react that way to the medication but what is important is that it has not affected his movements, body system and his thought process. He is presently in Abuja with his colleague Heads of State discussing the Ivorian crisis and how there can be some lasting solution. Over the weekend, he was even at the Farmers Day celebration so everything is going on well with him…The president is well, as he has always said, it is the good Lord who grants us good health but he is very strong and stable, he has been given a clean bill of health by all the doctors who have looked at him and he is going about his normal duties. It will amaze you he still wakes up at 4:30 am every day and he does exercise and he is a very fit man. I can assure you he is still the good sports man we have always known,” he added.

Mr. Okudzeto Ablakwa commended PeaceFM in general and Fiifi Banson in particular for seeking official clarification and not hopping on the grapevine bandwagon.