Dr. Bernard Okoe-Boye, the Chief Executive of the National Health Insurance Authority, has urged the public and all stakeholders to focus on efforts that will relieve the victims of the Akosombo spillage.
He stated that a comparative analysis of stakeholders’ support for the victims among others may derail the need for collective effort to send relief to the affected areas.
He thus urged all stakeholders to focus on saving lives and properties rather than auditing and probing on the causatives of the incident.
“So let me say that one thing I have observed that is worrying is this issue of people trying to assess the performance of stakeholders or trying to see the level of input and trying to audit the causes now, while the crisis is still looming.”
Dr. Bernard Okoe-Boye
Citing an example in recent times, Dr. Okoe-Boye buttressed the need to focus on saving lives and properties as far as possible.
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“Recently, I was watching CNN, and one of the spokespersons for the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) was asked; does he think the cabinet or their Prime Minister slept on the job, looking at the fact that people could enter their territory and kill?
“The answer was that, as they speak now, they are in a war situation. It is not the time to check whether minister slept and which minister didn’t do their work very well.”
Dr. Bernard Okoe-Boye
Dr. Bernard Okoe-Boye, however, stated that after the situation is brought under control, such discussions will be proper to hold.
“They have to contain the situation. After containing it, they will come to that later. So I will encourage all, that we take such a position. Let us see how much we can support, we can give to the people now. Individuals, government, stakeholders, religious, clergy, and journalists; let’s come on board fully.
“When we are done, when the situation is under control, we can come to the drawing board or the whiteboard and check whether the technical delivery of the dredging department at VRA was on point, check whether there is culpability or sleep on the duty of care.”
Dr. Bernard Okoe-Boye
Hence he expressed his unwillingness to join such a conversation in the meantime.
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“I don’t want to spend my energies on some issues. Since the beginning of this issue, some people commented, right from the word go, they started on a note like, we don’t see you much here because you are not for us. It is this thing of regionalism and partisanship. It was very evident.
“My point is that it is fair to say that the Ministry of Sanitation has not given them alternative sources of water, you can get water tankers. That is the kind of criticism I want; a criticism that points to a deficiency and shows what someone should do. That is fair. Let us push it at that angle. If you do that you get a lot of results.”
Dr. Bernard Okoe-Boye
He argued that humans have a choice to focus on what they want hence encouraging that such choices should be made to help the victims.
“At the same time, there are a lot of activities happening from both government and non-government sources. My advice is that let’s spend time and effort and those activities that are bringing some relief to the conditions. As human beings, we have a choice as to what to channel our energies into and where we send them.
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“This advice will even help to avoid further diseases. As for me, I know the people there have been doing a lot for their people already. I would like them not to let the commentaries of state or no-state action take them away from that focus.”
Dr. Bernard Okoe-Boye
“When things settle, that is when maybe when there are [such] discussions I will put in some energy. But for now, let’s refrain” he emphasized.
Dr. Okoe Boye indicated that he has donated in support of alleviating the plights of the people through the MPs in the affected areas.
In addition, the National Health Insurance Authority is on the grounds to ensure hospitals don’t go into deficit as they follow through with the directives of the Ghana Health Service to provide free service.
“What you don’t want to happen is for the hospitals to provide care based on a directive only now to supper operational issues because of the deficit that comes in the wake of such matters.”
