National Blood Service strongly reacts to 'spiritual sacrifice' allegations

The National Blood Service (NBS) has expressed disgust over video and audio recordings circulating on social media purporting that the blood donation exercise by the Despite and Special Group of Companies are for ritual purposes.

A certain YouTuber who goes by the name Evangelist Emmanuel Addai alleged on social media that the blood collected from voluntary blood donors who patronize the activity doesn't go to the blood bank but used for some "spiritual sacrifice".

The Blood Service is utterly shocked that a generous act by Presidents of Despite and Special Group of Companies, Dr. Osei Kwame (Despite) and Dr. Ernest Ofori Sarpong, to save lives could be misrepresented in the public domain.

"The National Blood Service (NBS) has noted with deep shock and utter disappointment video and audio recordings by one Evangelist Emmanuel Addai making rounds in certain social media circles alleging that blood donated by voluntary blood donors during community blood donation drives organised by the Despite Group of Companies are used for rituals by Dr. (H.C) Osei Kwame Despite. The assertions by the said Evangelist that the blood collected from voluntary blood donors who patronise such blood donation drives do not get to hospitals are uninformed and portrays a lack of understanding of blood donation process. The NBS wishes to state emphatically that these assertions by the said Evangelist Addai on the recordings are palpably false, baseless and most regrettable," a statement by the National Blood Service stressed.

The NBS is advising the general public to ignore those ridiculous claims by the so-called Evangelist saying that "over the past few years, the Despite Group of Companies has consistently supported the NBS in its efforts to meet the national blood requirements. The NBS appreciates the enormous contributions of the Despite Group of Companies and other corporate organizations, religious bodies, educational institutions and organized community groups towards the steady growth of voluntary blood donation in Ghana.

"We urge our partners to remain committed to the noble objective of saving lives through blood donation".

"Regular voluntary unpaid blood donors are recognised globally as the safest source of blood for transfusion and the surest way to provide and sustain adequate blood supply. The World Health Organisation (WHO) recommends that regular blood donation by 1% of the population is required to meet the minimum national blood requirement. However, Ghana's blood supply currently relies heavily on replacement donations by family and friends of patients who require blood transfusion therapy", the Blood Service further explained.

The Service also stated unequivocally that "NO STAFF OF DESPITE GROUP OF COMPANIES was involved in the technical processes of the blood donation exercise..."