Former Minister for Communications, Dr. Edward Kofi Omane Boamah, has jabbed President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, over the no-use of elevators at the Health Ministry on some days.
Dr. Omane Boamah suggested to the President to as a matter of urgency, instruct the management of the Ministry of Health to reverse its directive. His comment follows the Health Ministry’s Memorandum, which instructed its staff not to access the elevators from the 1st to the 3rd floor on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
The directive, the Ministry explained amongst others, was necessitated by the government’s debt restructuring and the huge amount of money used in maintaining the elevators.
In a Facebook post, Dr. Omane Boamah said the directive, if not reversed, will negatively affect the free movements of vulnerable people including pregnant women, children, people with disabilities, the elderly, amongst others.
“No elevator/lift days at the Ministry of Health ‘sen’? I mean, how! So, how does your government expect these vulnerable people, including pregnant women and children, to access the affected parts of the building that houses Ghana’s Ministry of Health (MoH) with the no-lift days policy? Therefore, I urge you Mr. President, to cause the Ministry of Health to immediately reverse the policy of “no elevator/lift…” at the Ministry of Health in the best interest of people living with disabilities, the elderly, pregnant women and for that matter children.”
Dr. Omane Boamah
He further suggested to the government to downsize the number of its appointees to reduce cost.
“The Ministry and your government as a whole, must rather cut costs in a manner that does not impact negatively on the vulnerable. Downsizing the number of appointees serving in your administration, is one way to enhance overall efficiency without impacting negatively on equity”, Dr. Omane Boamah opined.
Bridget Otoo Reacts To Health Ministry’s Lift Timetable
Broadcaster Bridget Otoo, also berated the Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo government over the current hardship in the country.
Bridget Otoo, who made this remark while reacting to a memo on a schedule for the usage of elevators by the Ministry of Health, said the Akufo-Addo-led government was inconsiderate, naïve and arrogant.
In a tweet shared, the broadcaster also described Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia as an “IT vice president”.
“Thoughtless, Clueless, Incompetent and pompous government led by @NAkufoAddo and IT vice president @MBawumia,” part of her tweet read.
The said memo, which was titled: “Limiting the Usage of the Elevator (No Lifts Days) “, indicated that the Ministry of Health had instituted a schedule for the usage of elevators at its head office in Accra.
In a memo dated March 31, 2023, the administrators of the ministry indicated that the move was necessitated because of the current financial challenges the government is facing.
The authorities, in the Memo sighted, said that no staff was to use the lift for movement between the 1st floor and the 3rd floor. It added that Tuesdays and Thursdays are ‘no lift days’, meaning all movements in the building, which is about 7 floors, will be without the elevators.
“As you are aware, the country is going through some Economic Restructuring. This situation has impacted on Government’s financial releases to all Public Sector Institutions. Management has also noticed the huge amount of funds expended on maintaining the Ministry’s facilities including the elevators. This situation is impacting negatively on the finances of the Ministry and has therefore become necessary for Management to regulate the use of the elevator by introducing the following: No use of the elevator from the 1st to the 3 floors. No lift days on Tuesdays and Thursdays,” parts of the memo read.
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