Deputy Ranking Member of Parliament’s Health Committee, Boakye-Yiadom Patrick, has criticised the leadership of the Ministry of Health, stating that the sector demands individuals with exceptional backgrounds and competence to steer it effectively.
Speaking to ABC News GH, the legislator expressed concern over the ongoing strike by nurses and midwives, attributing part of the crisis to leadership shortcomings within the Ministry.
He argued that the challenges in the health sector are a reflection of the calibre of people placed in charge.
According to Boakye-Yiadom, the ongoing withdrawal of services by nurses and midwives could have been avoided if the Health Minister had acted proactively.
“Health is such an important area that we need someone with an exquisite background to head,” he stated.
He lamented that sometimes individuals without the necessary experience or vision are appointed to lead crucial sectors, resulting in delayed decision-making and policy failures.
“If the Minister had been proactive, I am sure we wouldn’t have gotten to this stage,” he said.
The MP further implied that the performance of the current Health Minister has been underwhelming.
“The least said about him, the better,” he remarked, pointing to what he described as a pattern of ineffective conduct since the beginning of the Minister’s tenure.
His comments come as the Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association (GRNMA) leads a nationwide strike to press for the implementation of a 2024 collective bargaining agreement.
The GRNMA insists that it will not back down until the agreement is fully honoured.
