Richard Ahiagbah, the Director of Communications for the New Patriotic Party (NPP), has expressed support for Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin’s proposal for a dedicated hospital for Members of Parliament (MPs), stating that health is an issue that should never be deprioritized.
Speaking on Metro TV’s Good Morning Ghana monitored by MyNewsGh, Ahiagbah noted that while some may argue that building a special hospital for MPs is unnecessary, the broader conversation should focus on strengthening Ghana’s health infrastructure.
“I think that what the Minority Leader is saying is that health is a priority all the time. If you’re saying we shouldn’t build one specifically for Parliament, you can argue that. But even if a hospital is built today, it’s not as if only MPs will go there,” he stated.
Ahiagbah emphasized that Ghana needs more hospitals and expressed concern over the defunding of Agenda 111, a government initiative aimed at expanding the country’s healthcare facilities.
“I am saddened that in the budget, they have not provided funding for Agenda 111. We need more hospitals than we have. Why are we not continuing what has already been started?” he questioned.
Drawing from personal experience, Ahiagbah reflected on the unpredictable nature of life and the importance of accessible healthcare.
“The day I had my accident, I was going about my normal activities. It happened in an instant. If I had passed away, that would have been it.
“You cannot decide not to prioritize health. Maybe we can debate whether this is the right time or if MPs should have a dedicated facility, but we must agree that health infrastructure is critical,” he stressed.
He called for a shift away from politicizing the proposal, urging stakeholders to focus on the core issue of ensuring better healthcare for all Ghanaians.
“The Minority Leader’s suggestion should open up a conversation on how we improve our health infrastructure. Instead of focusing on whether it’s for MPs or not, let’s talk about ensuring that every Ghanaian has access to quality healthcare,” he concluded.
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