The Minister for Information, Mustapha Hamid, has assured Ghanaians that the Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, will soon return to the country after leaving on Friday for the United Kingdom on medical leave.
Dr. Bawumia took ill on Friday morning, and was given medical attention in the country, but left for the UK upon the advice of his doctors.
The government is yet to indicate the exact ailment the Vice President may be battling.
This has prompted some public speculation, with members of the Minority in Parliament calling for full disclosure on the health status of the Vice President.
But according to Mustapha Hamid, Dr. Bawumia “is doing very well”.
Speaking at a press conference to provide updates on the health status of the Vice President, he said, “he [Bawumia] is doing very well. The Chief of Staff and other senior government officials have been talking to him.”
Although Mustapha Hamid could not give the exact date for the return of Dr. Bawumia, but said, “God willing, he will be back home shortly to resume his duties.”
He had earlier explained that the idea of flying Bawumia to the UK was to ensure that he was kept away from visitors who may interfere with his rest and recuperation period.
“When he is in Ghana, people will come from his village; from Walewale, from Gambaga. Wherever he is in Ghana, people will still besiege him to visit him. Even me, I would think that if I don’t go and visit him, he may think that Mustapha didn’t come and see me and etc.”
“Normally, when you are outside their reach, then you are able to rest properly and have a total recovery because if you are here and you are getting medical attention, people will still besiege your house or your hospital bed or whatever,” the Information Minister stated.
Come clean on Bawumia’s health – Minority
The Minority in Parliament on Sunday registered its displeasure over the government’s communication on the health of the Vice President.
Following the swearing in of the Prof. Oquaye as the acting president of the of President Akufo-Addo and Dr. Bawumia, the minority leader, Haruna Idrissu said the governments’ handling of the “sensitive matter” was not the best.
“Mr. Speaker, we are not happy with government communicators at the office of the Presidency. Mr. Speaker, it is a sensitive matter. I could be ill myself, but Mr. Speaker, they should communicate well. I have sighted a letter where they say he is on Medical leave. What medical leave? Words matter,” he said.
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By: Jonas Nyabor/citifmonline.com/Ghana