No need to entertain Ebola vacine trial – Deputy Speaker

Second Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Joe Ghartey, has said there is no need for the country to entertain the ongoing Phase 1 Ebola Vaccine trial in the Volta Region.

“Mr. Speaker, Rev. Eastwood Anaba this morning said during the Memorial Service for the June 3 flood and fire disaster victims that fear of death is more serious than death. Mr. Speaker, I will also say that the fear of Ebola is even more serious than Ebola itself. Let this scourge go away from us,” he noted when contributing to a statement calling for the suspension of the Ebola Vaccine trial by the MP for Ho West, Emmanuel Bedzrah, Wednesday.

He told the House that the impact of Ebola in countries hit with the virus varies, cautioning that the project should never be entertained.

The former Attorney-General said he was alarmed to learn persons who were supposed to be familiar with the matter confirmed they knew nothing about the ongoing exercise.

“It is very disturbing for the MP of the area to get up and say she is not aware of the ongoing Ebola Vaccine trial. If we are doing something in this country and Parliament does not know about it – the Executive is not aware … then what is happening in our country, what is happening to our systems? Can anybody at all do anything at anytime?,” he asked.

Parliament yesterday ordered the immediate suspension of Phase 1 of the Ebola Vaccine trial until further notice.