The Member of Parliament for Atwima Nwabiagya North, Frank Yeboah, has raised serious concerns about what he describes as the “true state” of Ghana’s economy and healthcare sector, challenging what he says is an overly optimistic picture presented by President John Dramani Mahama in the recent State of the Nation Address (SONA).
Contributing to a debate on the motion to thank the President for his message to Parliament, Mr. Yeboah argued that the President’s address painted a picture of a thriving healthcare system that does not reflect the realities faced by ordinary Ghanaians.
According to him, the president highlighted several achievements in the health sector, including the regularisation of nursing trainee allowances, reduction in application fees for nursing training colleges, expansion of access to training institutions and the introduction of the government’s “No Fees Stress” initiative.
However, the MP said the narrative of improvement is contradicted by actions taken by government officials within the same sector.
He cited a recent directive by the Minister for Health, Kwabena Akandoh Mintah, who reportedly demanded the immediate suspension of the Principal of the Nalerigu Nursing Training College for admitting 2,750 students instead of the 750 approved by the government.
Mr. Yeboah questioned the rationale behind the move, arguing that if the government claims to have addressed challenges in the health sector, there should be no justification for denying qualified students the opportunity to pursue nursing training.
“While the President is touting expansion in access to nursing training and the removal of financial barriers, the Health Minister is demanding the suspension of a principal for admitting more students, claiming it would burden the No Fees Stress policy,” he said.
He further argued that the real state of Ghana’s healthcare system should be measured not by official pronouncements but by the everyday experiences of citizens, particularly those in rural communities.
To illustrate his point, the MP referenced the plight of cocoa farmers in communities such as Worapong in the Atwima Nwabiagya North Constituency and Sefwi Bodi.
According to him, under the previous administration, farmers in such remote areas had access to life-saving anti-snake serum delivered through the Zipline drone medical delivery service.
However, he observed that the suspension of the government’s contract with the Zipline service has left many rural farmers vulnerable.
Mr. Yeboah explained that if a cocoa farmer is bitten by a snake today while working on the farm, the individual would have to arrange personal transport to the nearest health facility before receiving the life-saving serum.
He questioned how such a farmer, whose livelihood depends on cocoa production, would be able to afford transportation after the government had also reduced the price paid for cocoa by over a thousand Ghana cedis per bag.
“If that farmer is bitten by a snake today, he must find his own means to travel to the hospital before receiving treatment. Where will the money for that transport come from?” he asked.
The MP further painted a broader picture of the economic hardship facing citizens, linking the health challenges to rising living costs and persistent power outages.
According to him, even if the farmer survives the ordeal and returns home after treatment, the situation is compounded by the return of electricity outages, popularly known as “dumsor.”
He claimed that prepaid electricity credit, which previously lasted for weeks, now runs out within days, placing additional pressure on households already struggling with economic difficulties.
“These are the realities confronting Ghanaians today. This is the true state of our health sector and the economy,” he stated.
Mr. Yeboah expressed concern about what he described as worsening living conditions under the current administration, urging the government to focus on practical solutions that directly improve the lives of citizens rather than relying on what he termed optimistic narratives.
“Ghanaians are suffering,” he said, calling for urgent intervention to address the economic and social challenges confronting the country.