MP for Effiduase/Asokore and Ranking Member on Health, Dr Nana Ayew Afriye
New Patriotic Party (NPP) Member of Parliament for Effiduase/Asokore and Ranking Member on Health, Dr Nana Ayew Afriye, has expressed heartfelt support for Vice President Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang amid her recent health challenges.
In a Facebook post on Monday, March 31, 2025, the MP wished the Vice President a speedy recovery, emphasizing that health should not be politicized despite past partisan debates on the matter.
“Your Excellency, I wish you a speedy recovery. Regardless of your situation, we can’t do politics with anyone’s health. In the past, some NDC folks used all manner of arguments justifying why patient records of government officials should be made public, something I disagree with. Also, others felt there was no need to seek advanced care abroad for highly placed persons in government, as they deemed it a waste of taxpayers’ money. This is a case of the chicken coming home to roost. Those comments were needless and overtly political,” he stated.
Acknowledging gaps in Ghana’s healthcare system, particularly in sub-specialty care, Dr Afriye, who is a medical doctor, stressed the need for ongoing modernization while calling for patience and support for the Vice President.
“Folks, as we strive to modernize our healthcare institutions, we must admit the gaps with respect to sub-specialty care. Eventually, we will get there. But for now, we can only wish our Vice President well. Madam, speedy recovery and all the best,” he wrote.
In his post, Dr Afriye called out persons he described as “political pastors” for exploiting matters of health and urged decency when addressing such sensitive issues.
“To those political pastors, please spare us some peace. To those NDC folks who played politics with health in the past, shame on you,” he said.
He further condemned past arguments from some NDC members who demanded public disclosure of government officials’ patient records and criticized overseas treatment as a waste of taxpayers’ money.
Describing such comments as “needless and overtly political,” he urged Ghanaians to focus on unity rather than division in this instance while also sending love and goodwill to the Vice President.
“Good fellows, may we not politicize this situation. Prof., come back home safely. I don’t even know you, I don’t belong to your party, but as a Ranking Member on Health and a Ghanaian who has sworn to be faithful and loyal to Ghana, my motherland, Ghana matters to me, and you matter to us in these difficult times. All the best; we care and love you,” he said.
Prof Opoku-Agyemang fell ill after work on Friday, March 28, 2025, and was admitted to the University of Ghana Medical Centre (UGMC) the following day.
Medical experts subsequently recommended advanced treatment abroad to ensure her full recovery, a decision confirmed by a Presidency statement signed by Felix Kwakye Ofosu, Minister for Government Communications.
On March 31, Eric Adjei, a former deputy spokesperson for the Vice President, reported that she is now in good health, a claim supported by her own public statement expressing gratitude and extending Eid Mubarak greetings to Ghana’s Muslim community.
GA/KA
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