Zakaria, Mawia

Dr. Mahmud Bawumia has since delivered his lecture on the true state of the Ghanaian economy based on what is available to him as an observer. A gloomy picture of the economy has been painted.

Managers of the economy have maintained that its unethical for Dr. Bawumiah to churn out figures which are at variance with official figures. Analysts are inclined to defend on figures from official sources for the paramount reason of credibility.

In the same vein, but on a rather more sensitive subject Africa watch magazine published records believed to be the medical records of the presidential candidate of the N.P.P., Nana Addo Dankwa Akuffo Addo.

The records indicate that Akuffo Addo had been diagnosed of prostate cancer and other ailments. Members of the opposition N.P.P are challenging the authenticity of the records. They have, however, failed to produce medical records of Nana Addo to refute those published by Africa Watch Magazine.

This has resurrected the age-long debate of whether presidential candidate should make their health records public. Dr. Edward Mahama, MD is reported to have publicly advised that the Doctors of Nana Addo ought to come out with the medical reports of Nana to dispel the publication.

The call for the publication of medical records by Presidential candidates is supported by the events that led to the sudden demise of the former President Mills and comments of the opposition N.P.P. and its flagbearer. It is also argued that publication of medical records will aid electorates to pay attention to possible replacements such as running mates.

A running mate who is selected to meet a certain religious and/or geographic balance may not be acceptable. In the mist of these intense pressure on Nana Addo to publicise his medical records in responds to the Africa Watch publication, Dr. Ad Gyamfi, the former GMA president who led an illegal strike of Doctors in 2013 and whose wife was an ambassador at the time Nana Addo was Foreign Affairs Minister, attempted to clarify issues regarding the health status of Nana Akuffo Addo. This attempted clarification exposed serious weaknesses.

Dr. Adu Gyamfi claimed to be the personal physician of Nana, a position he has held for the past two years. In answering a question posed by a journalist, Dr. Gyamfi claimed he had no knowledge of the past medical history of his patient/client. A s Ghanaian myself, I recognize the value and importance of medical history in the management of a patient.

Even knowledge of past medical history of family members is very important. A renowned professor of clinical methods, Prof. Hut Clinson, has stressed the importance of medical history in the care of a patient.

In fact, the medical history is one of the most important records in medicolegal issues. It is therefore strange if not absurd that a practitioner of the caliber of Dr. Adu Gyamfi failed to appraise himself of the past medical history of Nana Addo. Critics are of the opinion that Dr. Adu Gyamfi failed to do justice to the subject and leaves the electorates and discerning Ghanaian no option but to rely on the Africa Watch publication.

In conclusion, whereas the managers of the economy have published all the relevant data to refute Bawumia’s claims of dying economy, Dr. Adu Gyamfi has failed to publish the medical report of Nana Addo. He has also denied knowledge of medical history of Nana Addo. In view of this, a publication of the true medical report of Nana will help the discourse.