Blakk Rasta and Vice President Naana Jane Opoku Agyemang
Outspoken radio presenter Abubakar Ahmed, popularly known as Blakk Rasta, has expressed his opposition to the decision to fly the Vice President, Prof. Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang, abroad for medical attention.
His comment comes after the Presidency’s Communications Directorate, on Sunday, March 30, 2024, released a statement confirming that the Vice President attended the University of Ghana Medical Centre (UGMC) on Saturday following an unexpected health incident.
According to the statement, signed by Felix Kwakye Ofosu, Member of Parliament and Minister for Government Communications, medical experts have advised that the Vice President seek further treatment abroad to ensure her full recovery.
“We extend our best wishes to the Vice President for a speedy recovery,” the statement concluded.
But Blakk Rasta, known for his blunt criticisms, speaking on his show on 3FM monitored by GhanaWeb said the political class must be made to stay in Ghana and receive treatment whenever they are ill.
“I don’t agree with Naana Opoku-Agyemang flying out of this country for medical attention. Once you have made yourself available for political office, you must be ready to bear the consequences. If we have one or two politicians losing their lives in our Ghanaian hospitals, I am sure they would make sure our hospitals are well-equipped. We are the ones who are sacrificed all the time—we have no money to fly abroad. The money we pay as taxes is used by these people, who claim to be our servants but all of a sudden become our masters. They have the best healthcare, they fly out of the nation at will to take care of themselves, paying huge sums to foreign hospitals and doctors, while our doctors continue to languish in poverty.”
“I remember Hon. Ablakwa, while in opposition, saying that politicians must be banned from flying outside the country for medical attention. And I believe he said it in the best interest of Ghanaians. Today, I hear that Naana Jane is getting ready to fly outside the country, or has she flown already? What is the sickness? What is the medical condition? Can it not be handled in this country? Or do we keep looking down on our own doctors and medical personnel? The reality is this: as long as we push our politicians to stay here and seek medical attention, they will have the health facilities, doctors, and nurses in mind whenever they are making policies—because they know that when they fall ill (and everyone does), our hospitals will need to be well-equipped to take care of them.”
Blakk Rasta admonished the Vice President to learn from former President Kufuor, who set a precedent by seeking medical treatment in Ghana.
“Naana, if I were you—with all due respect—I would stay here in Ghana, like President Kufuor did. President Kufuor had a major surgery in a Ghanaian hospital, and when he got well, we all applauded him. All politicians who have given themselves to public service must remain in this country. They have no right to send their children abroad for schooling. They must stay in this country, school in this country, and go to hospitals in this country so that, at the very least, it will push them to think about our schools and hospitals. I wish Professor Naana Opoku-Agyemang a speedy recovery in a Ghanaian hospital, not a foreign one.”
I don’t agree with Prof. Jane Naana Agyemang flying outside of Ghana to get medical treatment. Once you avail yourself for a political position, you must be ready to bear the consequences – @Blakkrasta.#UrbanBlend #3FM927 pic.twitter.com/YQ3VwGE1w2
— #3FM927📻 (@3fm927) March 31, 2025
KA
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