Flagbearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), John Dramani Mahama has weighed in on the debate over whether obtaining a Dutch passport is better than a PhD in Ghana, attributing widespread despair among citizens to the economic hardship caused by the current government.
He emphasised that such a debate should not be allowed to persist, arguing that there is no basis for the comparison.
Mr. Mahama, during a public lecture organised by the Christian Service University in Kumasi on the theme “Sustainability of Democracy in Africa: The Ghanaian Experience”, stated that the debate reflects a loss of confidence and hope in Ghana’s future due to current economic hardships, coupled with corruption and the wastage of national resources by the current government.
“There’s widespread despair and anguish amongst our people leading to an active debate on social media about whether securing a foreign passport to do a menial job in Europe is better than holding a PhD in Ghana. It’s the adversity into which our nation has been plunged, otherwise, there’s no basis for comparison between a Visa and a PHD.”
He explained that the Presidency must not be handed over to persons who are at the centre of the current economic hardship in the country, indicating that the only way to sustain democracy in Ghana and Africa is to have leadership that focuses on truth and honesty to the citizens.
“Those whose glaring failures at economic management have sucked us into this vortex of despair despite their lofty talk in opposition and who now seek to flee the responsibility cannot be rewarded with the presidency in this deep crisis. The presidency cannot be handed over to those who present as the future when they have the epicentre of our disastrous presence.”
“Leadership that is honest and accepts responsibility for challenges rather than passing the back is the kind of leadership that sustains democracy.” The public lecture was part of activities marking the 50th anniversary of the Christian Service University.
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Meanwhile, private laboratory facilities are cashing in as patients have to pay extra for lab services due to the strike by the Medical Laboratory Professional Workers Union (MELPWU), which is putting a strain on major public health facilities in the Ashanti Region.
Patients are lamenting the high prices of accessing laboratory services as the third day of the strike is witnessing exacerbating situations with patients raising alarm about the extra costs due to the strike.
Patients are calling on the government and stakeholders to listen to the plea of the Union to alleviate the challenges the strike is imposing on them for swift intervention.
A patient stated “The fees charged were too much so I had to go back to the doctor and told him that I couldn’t afford the labs directed, so he cancelled everything. What if I have a severe problem but now, I wouldn’t know because of the fee. So, I had to pay 900 cedis just for the lab.”
