Oti MPs Bark At Regional Minister For Claiming Credit For Eye Screening Exercise

The Caucus of MPs representing the Oti Region has demanded an apology from their regional Minister, Joshua Makubu, over the Minister’s false claims for credit for work that he has not done in respect of eye screening exercise held in the region.

In a statement issued on Thursday, August 12, 2021, and signed by their Chairman, Hon. Wisdom Gidisu, the eight MPs said the Eye Department of the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) in Kumasi had written to them (Oti MPs) ” requesting their respective support towards the exercise”

 The MPs then “decided to approach the exercise from a regional point to increase coverage and make it very successful. At all material times, the Caucus discussed, strategized and collaborated to make every phase a great success”.

 “Together with their respective constituency health teams they identified and located communities where screening teams should operate in each constituency to screen and diagnose people for the surgery” they added.

According to them, they financed accommodation and inter Oti transportation for the team of nurses and doctors who carried out the eye screening exercise, and also fed the various constituents who have traveled from their homes to the screening centers.

They indicated they had also sponsored, “sight glasses and medication for other cases” with each of them having to fork out Ghc20,000 to cover expenses.

However, the regional Minister has claimed that he is the person-of-means behind the exercise.

 “We wish to correct a doubt created in the minds of many including Reverend Sister Georgina L. Quayson, head of St. Joseph Catholic Hospital about the role of the Oti MPs Caucus in the exercise resulting from a well-publicized statement made by Hon. Joseph Makubu, the Oti Regional Minister. A misconception which led to her writing a letter of appreciation to the Regional Minister commending him for a role he did not play,” the peeved MPs wrote.

 “For the avoidance of doubt, the transportation of ‘clients’ as mentioned in Rev. Sis. Georgina L. Quayson’s letter was borne fully by the MPs of the Region and not the Minister as her letter of appreciation stated”

 They added that “Whilst we demand an unqualified apology from our Regional Minister for his comments, we remain committed to our desire to see a total development of our region”.