Features
Office of the Speaker writes to The Spectator, saying: George Frank Asmah’s aspersions on Speaker exposes his ignorance
Mr.George Frank Asmah, in his column in The Spectator newspaper of Saturday, August 28 2021 titled, “Parliament: When Bagbin decides to tell a ‘red’ lie”, sort to cast aspersions on the integrity of the Speaker of Parliament, Rt. Hon. Alban Bagbin.That direct and baseless attack on the integrity of the Speaker is not only an affront to the Office of the Speaker of Parliament of Ghana, but also hypocritical and shameful.
It is a known fact that Mr. John Boadu, in the heat of the 2020 elections, made a categorical statement which was captured on video and has since been trending allover the internet saying that President Akuffo Addo had won the Presidential elections but the NPP lost the parliamentary elections to the NDC.
The Speaker only re-echoed what Mr. Boadu said on tape but strangely, the only one who didnot hear that was Mr.George Frank Asmah.It is important to state however that before I made this decision to write this rejoinder, I called Mr.George Frank Asmah to enquire from him if he had watched the video or seen a transcription of it and his answer was a definite No.He had not seen the video: he only heard Mr. Boadu deny ever voicing out those words attributed to him and decided to launch his attack.
In the writeup, he stated, and I quote; “Rt. Hon. Bagbin: you are known as a very competent lawyer. Not so? In the ‘game of law’ is it not the case that EVIDENCE is supreme? So where is the evidence that what you told the Ethiopian Parliamentary delegation actually happened?”
I get the impression from the above quote that my senior,George Frank Asmah, has forgotten that it is not only in the “game of law” that EVIDENCE becomes supreme. Even as journalists, we are required by our code of ethics to ensure fairness, equity, balance and establish the truthin what we write. The evidence Mr.George Frank Asmah is looking for is allover the place and in every newsroom. There can only be one conclusion to draw from this behavior and that is mischief or a crave to use his column in The Spectator newspaper to court the attention of whoever will get him appointed into political office.
One can understand the frustrations of Mr. George Frank Asmah, who in 2005 was lifted from the newsroom of the New Times Corporation to become District Chief Executive of the Komenda-Edna-Eguafo-Abirem (KEEA) District Assembly under the NPP administration. This has been the NPP’s way of encouraging journalists like George Frank Asmah to be wayward and unprofessional against the opposition and in turn, they get rewarded with juicy appointments. There is a plethora of such journalists around today on different appointments.
George Frank Asmah’s frustration is a result of waiting in vain over the years for another juicy appointment which has since eluded him.So in his imagination, Mr.George Frank Asmah thinks he can now court the attention of the appointing authority by defending leading members of the ruling party, in this case, the dishonest and devious behavior of Mr. John Boadu, General Secretary of the New Patriotic Party(NPP), to court attention.
Even before his election into the high office of the Speaker of Parliament, Rt. Hon. Bagbin had committed himself to the cause of the nation building and has exhibited high moral integrity at all material times.It is with this same standard that Mr. Speaker spoke to the Ethiopian Parliamentary Delegation when they paid a courtesy call on him in his office. He spoke from the perspective of many issues known to him and it was with this conviction that he admonished the Ethiopian delegation to emulate only the good sides of Ghana’s democracy.
I have no doubt about the unwavering devotion of the Speaker to the collective cause of building a prosperous nation. He has no intention whatsoever to do anything that will jeopardize the successes that this country has achieved so far.Perhaps my little advice to George Frank, who wants to use this antiquated style of directing attention or traffic to himself for political position, to use his energy, time and column provided for him to tout his legacy for the people of KEEA during his stewardship as District Chief Executive.
How many lives did he transform with his leadership in KEEA? What impact did he make? I believe if he is able to do this honestly and effectively, he would not need to destroy the reputations of others or be seen hopping or jumping to defend dishonest men whose words do not mean anything to them and who cannot defend their own words when it is played back to them.
I will come back and discuss the extreme trauma that the chiefs and people of KEEA have been made to suffer following the refusal of the powers that be to put to use the Komenda Sugar Factory which was commissioned in 2016 by the government at the time.This facility was built from loans that would be serviced with tax payers’ money and one would have expected people who claim to hail from the area where it is built to join calls for it to start operations, to produce the sugar for which it was built, and not bad mouth it or sit aloof. That should be your focus, George Frank!
Peter Bampoe
Communication Officer,
Office of the Speaker
By G. Frank Asmah
Features
The global challenge of medical malpractice
Introduction
Medical malpractice is a significant concern worldwide, with far-reaching consequences for patients, healthcare providers, and the overall healthcare system.
It is defined as a deviation from the standard of care that results in patient harm, and can take many forms, including misdiagnosis, surgical errors, medication mistakes, and inadequate patient care.
This article provides a comprehensive overview of the issues surrounding medical malpractice, its consequences, and potential solutions.
The prevalence of
medical malpractice.
Medical malpractice is a widespread problem that affects patients in many countries. According to a study published in the Journal of Patient Safety, medical errors are the third leading cause of death in the United States, resulting in an estimated 251,000 deaths per year. Similarly, a study published in the British Medical Journal found that medical errors are a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in the UK.
Types of medical
malpractice
Medical malpractice can take many forms, including:
1. Misdiagnosis: Failure to accurately diagnose a patient’s condition, leading to delayed or inappropriate treatment.
2. Surgical errors: Mistakes made during surgery, such as operating on the wrong body part or leaving instruments inside a patient.
3. Medication errors: Prescribing or administering the wrong medication, dose, or route of administration.
4. Inadequate patient care: Failure to provide adequate care, including neglecting to monitor patients, provide necessary treatment, or respond to patient concerns.
Consequences of medical malpractice:
Medical malpractice can have severe consequences for patients, including:
1. Physical harm: Patients may experience pain, suffering, and long-term health consequences.
2. Emotional trauma: Patients and their families may experience anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
3. Financial burden: Patients may incur significant medical expenses, lost wages, and other costs.
Solutions to medical malpractice:
To address the issue of medical malpractice, many countries have implemented reforms aimed at reducing the number of claims and improving patient safety. Some potential solutions include:
1. Tort reform: Limiting the amount of damages that can be awarded in medical malpractice cases.
2. Alternative dispute resolution: Using mediation or arbitration to resolve disputes outside of court.
3. Communication and Resolution Programs (CRPs): Encouraging open communication between healthcare providers and patients, and providing fair compensation for injuries.
Conclusion
Medical malpractice is a complex issue that requires a multifaceted approach to address.
By understanding the prevalence, types, and consequences of medical malpractice, we can work towards creating a safer and more compassionate healthcare system.
Potential solutions, such as tort reform, alternative dispute resolution, and CRPs, offer promising approaches to reducing medical malpractice claims and improving patient safety.
References:
[1] Makary, M. A., & Daniel, M. (2016). Medical error—the third leading cause of death in the US. BMJ, 353, i2139.
[2] Vincent, C., Neale, G., & Woloshynowych, M. (2001). Adverse events in British hospitals: preliminary retrospective record review. BMJ, 322(7285), 517-519.
By Robert Ekow Grimmond-Thompson
Features
Life is like a quiz competition
I watched a quiz show on TV last Sunday, between two schools, Okuapeman and I think University Practice. After the first round, University Practice was leading with about 30 points and Okuapeman had nothing.
Then comes the second round of the intended four rounds of competition and at the end of the round, surprise, surprise, Okuapeman had 60 points and University Practice had either zero or 10.
In the final analysis, Okuapeman won the competition with 95 points to University Practice’s 90 or 93 points. Such is life and the mysteries of life, are difficult to fathom.
There are classmates that we thought could not amount to much in life and yet we become pleasantly surprised as time passed, about the vast improvement in their lives.
There were other mates who were obviously destined for the top, based on their academic prowess but became complete failures later on in life.
When I was in the primary school, there was a classmate who most of the time came first in the end of term exams. He was very brilliant and so he going further up the academic ladder through Secondary school, Sixth form and ending up at the University was a forgone conclusion.
However, life’s mystery set in and he ended up as a teacher in a technical school owned by his brother-in-law. He did not amount to much, became an alcoholic and eventually passed away.
The day I heard that he had passed away and his general circumstances, I felt so sad. Such is life and sometimes it is like the quiz competition I witnessed, full of uncertainties.
There was another senior in Middle School, who also was very brilliant. In fact he got a score of 254 out of 300 in the Common Entrance Examination. Many years later, in my early years at the University, I met this guy at the Tarkwa Train Station and got the shock of my life. This guy was wearing a dirty, loosely fitting singlet and his state was pitiful.
Naturally after expressing pleasantries, I asked him what he was doing in Tarkwa after telling him that I was a student at the university. He then narrated how he was dismissed from the most prestigious Secondary School in the Kwahu area after some smoking and going out without exeat issue.
He further indicated that as a result, he was then hustling and doing Galamsey to make ends meet. I would have had a hard time believing that he was doing Galamsey and not working in a reputable organisation or institution if it was told me by someone. Indeed life can sometimes be like a quiz competition, if God is not involved.
Since we are not God and therefore do not have knowledge of what the future holds, we need to treat people who come across our paths well because you never know.
When I went for the funeral of one of my aunties, on my father side, with my SUV many years ago, a lot of my relatives were surprised because they never imagined that.
When it comes to say wealth, it has nothing to do with one’s academic qualifications. We have some of the wealthiest people who were school dropouts and so we need to be careful how we treat people, because life is like a quiz competition and you never know until the competition comes to an end.
I have seen someone who was not that nice looking, the nose being flat and all, and then 12 years later, such a huge natural transformation; so never write anybody off, because life is like a quiz competition. God bless.
NB: ‘CHANGE KOTOKA INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT TO KOFI BAAKO INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT’
By Laud Kissi-Mensah
