Drone saga: Dr. Yankson demands apology and retraction from Minister

The General Secretary of the Ghana Medical Association (GMA), Dr. Justice Yankson is demanding retraction and apology from Deputy Minister of Information, Mr Pius Enam Hadzide after claims that GMA president has endorsed government's plan implementation to use drones to distribute medicine in the country despite groundswell.

"He [Pius Hadzide] should do the honourable thing or I will take him on further," Dr Yankson said in an interview monitored by this reporter, Kwabena Danso-Dapaah on Asempa FM's afternoon political talkshow Ekosii Sen.

According to livid Dr. Justice Yankson, the Deputy Minister "spew out palpable falsehood" on claims that as GMA earlier supported and endorsed the drone form of medical deliveries deal.

"To the best of my knowledge, the GMA has never been part of any discussions on the drones," Dr Yankson fumed denying he personally supported the drone medical deliveries project anywhere.

"I have at no point had discussions with government or any government official on this drone system," Dr Yankson told the numerous listeners of the show.

"You see these are some of the things that politicians do sometimes," that take citizens back and insisted that he has never attended any of the health summits," where government sought to portray that he [Yankson] espoused the GMA's support and endorsement for the drones policy.

Background

The government on Wednesday dismissed the GMA's claims that it had not been made aware of the service agreement deal to have drones deliver essential medical supplies to remote areas in Ghana.

According to a Deputy Minister of Information, Mr Pius Enam Hadzide, the General Secretary of the Association, Dr Justice Yankson welcomed the deal when the Vice President, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia announced it at the 2018 Annual Health Summit in Accra.

At a press briefing in Accra Wednesday morning, Mr Hadzide said the current posture of the GMA on the matter was surprising.

Dismissing the claims by the GMA, Mr Hadzide said Dr Yankson gave the association’s blessings on the new policy since, according to him, it would strengthen emergency medical service in the country.

He quoted Dr Yankson as saying: “Well, for us as an association, on countless occasions, we have bemoaned the state of emergency medical service in the country, so if efforts are being made by the government to ensure we strengthen that aspect of our healthcare delivery, then we say kudos.