Statement on Bawumia’s health apt – Dr Oduro Osae

A Local Governance Expert, Dr Eric Oduro Osae, has said the decision by the Director of Communications at the Presidency to announce that the Vice president had taken ill was a step in the right direction.

According to him, this has gone a long way to deal with misinformation that may have probably emerged following this development if the presidency had not announced it.

A statement signed by Director of Communications at the presidency, Eugene Arhin, on Friday, 19 January, said Dr Bawumia “reported feeling unwell” today.

“He was attended to by his doctors, and is currently undergoing medical tests and observation. Any further information will be duly communicated,” the statement said.

There have been mixed reactions on social media about the decision to announce publicly that the Vice President had taken ill. Whereas others think the announcement was right, others are of the view that it was needless.

But speaking on the 505 programme on Class 91.3FM on Friday January 19, Dr Osae said: “He is a public figure and his health status can no more be private because he serves Ghanaians and Ghanaians are interested in his welfare and well-being.

“Even if the communication team hadn’t put this information out Ghanaians were going to find out what was wrong with their vice president, so I think in a way, it is good, it will kill any misinformation that other persons or people may want to put out there.

“It happens in all jurisdictions where the health status of the president and vice president and other important government officials in the country are announced publicly.”