Asaga's Ex-Gratia Case Lingers On

Posted: The Chronicle Wednesday, February 11, 2009

By Charles Takyi-Boadu

The sudden decision by President John Evans Atta Mills to withdraw the nomination of the Member of Parliament (MP) for Talensi-Nabdam constituency, Hon. Moses Asaga to the position of Minister for Water Resources, Works and Housing has sparked a heated debate across the length and breadth of the country.
This issue has generated a huge public outcry in which members of the general public and some social commentators have raised issues with the President's decision.
Whilst some believe that the constitution of the Republic guarantees the President the prerogative and discretionary powers to hire and fire any person at any point in time, others believe that he should not resort to the arbitrary use of the discretionary powers vested in him. Instead, they believe that he owes the good people of Ghana the responsibility to explain certain decisions that he has taken at certain times, to show the commitment of his pledge to run an open and transparent government.
Though no statement has been made by the office of the President to offer any explanation as to the circumstances surrounding the President's sudden decision to withdraw Mr. Asaga's nomination, it is widely speculated and believed that it might be due to the payment of the ex-gratia to former Presidents and MPs as contained in the recommendations of the controversial Chinnery-Hesse report.
Mr. Asaga is reported to have single-handedly authorised the payment of an amount of over US $20 million into the accounts of the beneficiaries without the consent and knowledge of either the President or his other colleagues on the three-member Transitional team on Finance, headed by Togbe Afede.
Others also believe his withdrawal had something to do with the battering of his wife sometime ago -an issue which raised questions over the credibility of Mr. Asaga as a 'Honourable' Member of the country's Parliament.
The Editors-in-Chief of the Daily Searchlight newspaper, Kenneth Agyei-Korankye and that of The Insight newspaper, Kwesi Pratt Jnr., have articulated divergent views on the issue in contention.
Speaking on Peace FM's Kokrokoo Morning show programme yesterday, the two individuals made their positions clear on the matter.
Whilst Ken admits that the constitution guarantees the President the liberty to fire and hire any individual or group of persons, he also stressed the need for him to stick to the promise he made to the teeming Ghanaian populace during his political campaign and at his swearing in ceremony to run an open and transparency.
By this promise, he noted that the President has a responsibility to give reasons why he decided to revoke the nomination of Mr. Asaga.
On his part, Mr. Pratt noted that the President owes nobody an explanation as to what might have informed his decision to withdraw the nomination of Mr. Asaga, since the constitution grants him the power to fire and hire at will.
That notwithstanding, he noted that it is incumbent on the President to remain committed to the promises he made to Ghanaians, which includes running an open and transparent government. In any case, he noted that there is nothing wrong with the President's action since it falls within the ambit of the law.
Other members of the public including callers to radio stations who are following the debate with keen attention also share similar concerns.
The public appears to be divided over the subject of whether or not indeed the President owes it a duty and responsibility to explain his actions and decisions to the public, considering his avowed commitment to run an open and transparent government.
Moses Asaga's nomination as Minister-designate for Water Resources, Works and Housing was withdrawn last week Friday by President Mills.
This was contained in a statement signed and issued by Presidential Spokesperson, Mahama Ayariga in which no reason(s) were assigned.

Doctors alarmed at spate of kidney failures

Posted: The Chronicle Thursday, February 12, 2009
By Charles Takyi-Boadu

Doctors in the country are alarmed at the increasing spate of kidney-related cases, especially among the youth. They have thus advised Ghanaians to cultivate good eating habits, and exercise regularly to avoid catching kidney-related diseases.
A Physician and Nephrologist (kidney expert) at the Department of Medicine, at the nation’s premier Hospital, the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital (KBTH), Dr. Charlotte Osafo, stressed the urgent need for Ghanaians to put an end to eating fatty foods, which have the tendency of increasing one’s susceptibility to risk.
Available statistics on renal cases (kidney related) at Korle-Bu, between the periods of January 2006 to July 2008, have it that there were 558 reported cases, with 143 being females and 415 males.
Most doctors believe that most kidney-related cases are not reported to hospital, for reason that they are attributed to witchcraft, hence the majority of those who contract it resort to spiritual healing and herbal medicines for treatment.
Unfortunately, only 38 people out of the total number of reported cases were able to afford treatment for the disease, while 123, who could not afford the treatment, died in the process.
The huge cost involved in treating kidney-related diseases, be it acute or chronic, is what has compelled doctors to warn the populace on further complications.
That notwithstanding, a person diagnosed with chronic kidney disease, must be subjected to three times of dialysis, between four to five hours a week, to sustain his or her life.
Dr. Osafo said treatments cannot cure kidney failure, but can improve health and prolong thhe life of the patient.
When the kidneys are damaged, and are not able to fulfill the process of filtering the blood, action must be taken. The cost of running dialysis on each session, cost not less than GH¢140 (¢1.4 million old cedis).
In that regard, the cost of sustaining a patient with chronic kidney-related diseases on dialysis, excludes his or her medications, and drugs.
Meanwhile, the only way available for a kidney patient, is through a transplant, which costs almost GH¢100,000 (¢1 billion old cedis).
At the moment, there are only five units in the country that can treat kidney-related ilnesses. They are, the Department of Medicine at Korle-Bu, National Cardiothoracic Centre, also at Korle-Bu, Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) in Kumasi, Peace and Love Hospital also in Kumasi, and the Central Regional Hospital in Cape Coast.
According to Dr. Osafo, the commonest causes of kidney failure, are diabetes, high blood pressure and a painless inflammation of the kidneys called ‘glomerulonephritis,’ which involves a progressive loss of the filtering units (nephrons) in the kidney.
She mentioned other common causes as including inherited condition of cycles in the kidneys (polycystic kidney disease), repeated kidney infections or kidney infections (pyelonephritis) in childhood, and obstruction to the urine flow, not forgetting excessive indulgence and use of drugs and alcohol.
She, however, noted that renal failure (kidney failure) was not an infectious disease.
According to her, the nature of the disease was such that it could happen to anyone at any age, and any point in time. Available information has it that chronic kidney failure is a serious, long term medical condition.
Currently, kidney transplants are performed in the United Kingdom every year.
Last year, 370,000 people in the United States were put on dialysis, with 15,000 receiving organ transplants, whilst 88,000 were waiting to receive organ transplant.
In that country, eight people die everyday waiting for organ transplants.
It is in this light that the National Kidney Foundation (NAKID) will be organising a free screening exercise, at the Makola market in Accra on March 12, this year, which is slated for the World Kidney Day celebration, for members of the public to check their status and susceptibility to kidney-related diseases.
The foundation would also embark on a float, through the principal streets of Accra on the same day, to sensitise people to keep a healthy life and good eating habits.