In the midst of the controversy surrounding the ailment of Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, maverick Member of Parliament for Assin Central, Kennedy Agyapong has stated that he was not privy to the Vice President’s situation until Yofi Grant, Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre (GIPC) told him that the second gentleman of the land collapsed.
It was reported in the Herald newspaper that Mr. Agyapong, who was in London to attend a memorial service of Joseph Ayi Ankrah, father to Ray Ankrah, the Financial Secretary of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the United Kingdom (UK) tried to visit Dr. Bawumia, but was not allowed.
While refuting the claims by the newspaper, the legislator said he did not visit the said hospital, to talk of being prevented from seeing Dr. Bawumia, adding that he was on a shopping spree.
But chiding the outspoken NPP leading member, the host of Badwam stated that it was out of place for Mr. Agyapong to be shopping while the Vice President had been hospitalised instead of visiting the latter.
Ken Agyapong however refuted the claim and noted that even if he was aware of the situation, it would not have been out of place to go shopping because Dr. Bawumia needed rest because he’s been working very hard.
According to Mr Agyapong, he was oblivious to the Vice President’s condition until his encounter with Yofi Grant who told him Dr. Bawumia collapsed.
“I didn’t even know number two [Dr. Bawumia] was sick. I was at Landmark Hotel and decided to step down for my breakfast. Then I saw someone wave at me. It was Yofi Grant. He was the only one seated so I went and sat beside him. Then he said there was something wrong with number two so I asked what it was. He told me he had collapsed. Those were the words he used. That he collapsed and he had to be rushed here so I asked how we could get information about his condition.
“Then he started texting and a reply came that he was better. Few minutes later, we saw the Second Lady. Apparently, she spent the night at the same hotel and she told us he was feeling better now. I then asked her to extend my regards to him. The following day, I was there with Yofi Grant when he came.” Mr. Agyapong recounted on Adom TV’s Badwam, Tuesday.
Dr. Bawumia left Ghana for the UK on January 19 on medical leave after the Presidency indicated that he had taken ill earlier in the day and was undergoing medical checks.
Few days after, the Minority Leader in Parliament, Haruna Iddrisu, called for more clarity from the Presidency with respect to the health status of Dr. Bawumia. Speaking on the Floor of Parliament, the Tamale South MP criticized the government over its communication on the matter.
“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 stated.
In response Deputy General Secretary of the NPP Nana Obiri Boahen described the calls by the Minority group in Parliament for the disclosure of Dr Bawumia’s health condition as insensitive.
“Courtesy and good manners demand that if somebody is ill we wish them well for a healthy recovery”, he noted.
Meanwhile, Dr. Bawumia is expected to return to Ghana latest by Friday, February 2, 2018, according to Minister of State in -charge- of National Security, Bryan Acheampong. He is reported to have refuted claims that Dr. Bawumia had been hospitalized.
“He’s not in the hospital as some have speculated. He’s doing very well with his wife and I’m assuring you that by close of Friday, God willing Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia will be in Ghana for us all to see how he’s doing,” Mr. Acheampong said on Kasapa FM.
