Features
Parliament: Bagbin needs long ‘health break’
There is no doubt in the minds of many responsible Ghanaians that our Speaker of Parliament, Rt. Honourable Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, is now more than ‘a national human property’, belonging to the entire Republic of Ghana.
Though, indisputably, he is a top-notch breed of the Opposition National Democratic Congress, his arch critics, even concede that he is a very hard ‘political nut’ to crack by both sides of the ‘mainstream’ political divide in the country.
Some analysts also claim that most often, Rt. Honourable Bagbin’s own political party finds it ‘extremely difficult’ ‘lobbying him’ to turn towards a certain direction in the august House.
Indeed, some tag him as an enigma and liken him to NPP’s Rt. Honourable Peter Ala Adjetey (of blessed memory), the 2nd Speaker of Parliament of the 4th Republic.
The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines enigma as a person or thing that is mysterious or difficult to understand.
Viewed as more than ‘a national human property’, many concerned admirers and critics of Rt. Honourable Bagbin are now turning their attention to his recent ‘looks’, having undergone about three medical reviews in the United Arab Emirates.
As a matter of fact, the actual nature of his sickness is unknown to the Ghanaian public.
It is, however, public Knowledge that from critical physical observation, he has lost weight considerably and looks emaciated, with apparent tiredness ‘hanging’ on his face; compared with his ‘very handsome’ physical looks in January 2021, when he was elected Speaker of Parliament.
The health of our Speaker of Parliament was highlighted by the media when he first left Ghana on November 27, 2021, for Dubai to undergo a medical review.
After two weeks in Dubai for medical review, he returned to the country in December 2021. And on January 7, 2022, he went back to Dubai for a second medical review and returned to Ghana on 23rd January, 2022.
In March 2022, he reportedly went back to Dubai for a third review,thus, raising ‘national eyebrows’.
Readers, from the foregoing, some admirers of Rt. Honourable Bagbin are of the view that he needs to take ‘a long health break’ to cure himself, so as to recover properly before returning to preside over business of Parliament.
They argue that the SPEAKERSHIP POSITION of Parliament is an onerous national duty that constantly saps the intellect and the physical energy of the occupant and urge Rt. Honourable Bagbin to take a long break to heal himself.
Some of his admirers claim that even though he has a very ‘tough skin’ for criticisms, incessant media reports about his travels abroad for medical reviews, might psychologically affect his recovery ‘processes’ and call for his ‘hibernation’ until his full recovery.
Media reports indicate that his medical reviews in Dubai have been a source of worry to many Ghanaians, including the Majority in Parliament, especially during the consideration of the Electronic Levy Bill on the floor of Parliament.
Some media reports claim that the expenses involved in the Speaker’s medical trips are a drain on the public purse; involving airfares, per diems, medical and hotel bills.
Some of the reports alleged that Rt. Honourable Bagbin was on his medical trips with his wife and some of his children and collected allowance of $1,000 per diem while his wife took $800 per diem.
A statement issued by the Parliamentary Service on March 7, 2022, however, said “the constant focus of the media on the Speaker’s medical trips to Dubai, while there is silence on the travels of other members of government is unfair and puts the Speaker up for ridicule.”
According to the statement, “what is intriguing is the focus on Mr Speaker’s travels and the efforts at exaggerating the costs.”
Responding to some of the media reports, the Office of the Speaker of Parliament, through his counsel, Mr Magnus Kofi Amoatey, said in a statement dated November 29, 2021, that “the Speaker being mindful of the times in which the country finds itself, travelled with a comparatively skeletal staff, taking into consideration the economic situation in the country and bearing in mind, the need for frugal and prudent spending.
“His Office, therefore, is not happy about reports on the trip, particularly on why he is accessing health care abroad, rather than at home.”
Wikipedia defines ‘need’ as, requiring something, because it is essential or very important, rather than just desirable.
This column, therefore, aligns with the admirers of Rt. Honourable Bagbin, to the effect that he NEEDS ‘a health break’ to fully recover; to revert to his handsomeness before returning to preside over the business of Parliament.
So, over to you, the handlers of Rt. Honourable A.S.K Bagbin.
Contact email/ WhatsApp of the author:
asmahfrankg@gmail.com (0505556179)
By G. Frank Asmah
Attention-Deficit or Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is often mistaken for laziness or indiscipline. In consulting rooms across Accra and in reports from school teachers, the pattern repeats: children who are bright but forgetful, parents who feel helpless, teachers who see incompleteness.
Research is clear-Barkley (2015) and others describe ADHD as a difference in the brain’s regulation of alertness, impulse and working memory, not a lack of effort.
The family’s role begins with structure. Regular sleep, predictable meal and homework times, and a simple visual list (uniform → books → water → corridor) provide the external scaffolding of these children need. Praise what is completed—“You opened the book and wrote the first sentence”-instead of rebuking what is missing.
Schools can help by seating the child front-row and centre, giving short written plus verbal instructions, allowing brief movement breaks, using quiet nonverbal cues and, where possible, grading effort and method as well as neatness. These adjustments reduce conflict and raise submission rates without lowering standards.
Couples and caregivers should share roles: one grounds, one pivots, and both protect rest. Shame-“bad parenting, bad child”-needs replacing with fact: different wiring, needs scaffolding.
Outcomes improve not by promises of perfection but by daily routines, clear limits and warmed connection. One homework slot kept, one instruction chunked, one calm repair after blurting-these small wins shift the family climate and let the child be seen beyond the label.
Resource
• CPAC (award-winning Mental Health and Counselling Facility): 0559850604 / 0551428486
Source: REV. COUNSELLOR PRINCE OFFEI’s insights on special needs support, relationships, and mental health in Ghana. He is a leading mental health professional, lecturer, ADR Expert/Arbitrator, renowned author, and marriage counsellor at COUNSELLOR PRINCE & ASSOCIATES CONSULT (CPAC COUNSELLOR TRAINING INSTITUTE) – 0551428486 /0559850604.
WEBSITES:
https://princeoffei22.wixsite.com/author
https://princeoffei22.wixsite.com/website
After two weeks of hectic activity up north, I drove to the Tamale airport, parked the car at the Civil Aviation car park as usual, paid the usual parking fee and boarded the plane for Accra.
Over the last two weeks, I had shuffled between three sites where work was close to completion.
One was a seed warehouse, where farmers would come and pick up good quality maize, sorghum and other planting material.
The other was a health facility for new mothers, where they were given basic training on good nutrition and small scale business.
And the third was a set of big boreholes for three farming communities.
The projects usually ran on schedule, but a good deal of time was spent building rapport with the local people, to ensure that they would be well patronised and maintained.
It was great to be working in a situation where one’s work was well appreciated. But it certainly involved a lot of work, and proactivity. And I made sure that I recorded updates online before going to bed in the evening.
When the plane took off, my mind shifted to issues in Accra, the big city. The young guys at my office had done some good work. They had secured five or six houses on a row in a good part of the city, and were close to securing the last.
When we got this property, unusually, Abena greeted them casually, and appeared to be comfortable in the guy’s company.
I was quite disappointed to hear that, because until the last few weeks, it seemed as if Abena and I were heading in a good direction. Apart from the affection I had for her, I liked her family. I decided to take it easy, and allow things to fall in whatever direction.
Normally I would take a taxi to her house from the airport, and pick her up to my place. This time I went to my sisters’ joint, where they sat by me while I enjoyed a drink and a good meal.
“So Little Brother,” Sister Beesiwa said, “what is it we are hearing about our wife-to-be?”
“When did you conclude that she was your wife-to-be? And what have you heard? I’ve only heard a couple of whispers. Ebo and Nana Kwame called to say that they have seen her in the company of—”
“Well said Little Brother,” Sister Baaba said. “By the way, Nana Kwame called an hour ago to ask if you had arrived because he could not reach you. Someone had told him that Jennifer had boasted to someone that she had connected Abena to a wealthy guy who would take care of her.”
I was beginning to understand. For some time, Abena had been asking me what work I was doing up north, and after I had explained it to her, she kept asking. So I think Jennifer fed her with false stories about me in order to get her to move to the Ampadu guy. Jennifer must have been well compensated for her efforts.
“In that case,” Sister Beesiwa said, “you should be glad that Abena is out of your way. She is easily swayed. Anyone who would make a relationship decision based on a friend’s instigation lacks good sense. I hope the guy is as wealthy as they say?”
“Who gets wealthy running a supermarket chain in Ghana?” Sister Baaba said. “Our supermarkets sell mostly imported products. Look at the foreign exchange rate. And remember that Ghanaians buy second-hand shoes and clothes. Supermarkets are not good business here. Perhaps they are showing off that they are wealthy, but in reality they are not doing so well.”
“Amen to that,” I said. “I’m beginning to understand. For some time, Abena had been asking me what work I was doing up north, and after I had explained it to her, she kept asking. So I think Jennifer fed her with false stories about me in order to get her to move to the Ampadu guy. Jennifer must have been well compensated for her efforts.”
She said that David Forson was only an agricultural extension worker in the north who did not have the resources to take care of a beautiful girl like her. And apart from being wealthy, the guy comes from an influential family, so Abena had done much better leaving a miserable civil servant like you for him.
“Amen to that,” I said. “I’m beginning to understand. For some time, Abena had been asking me what work I was doing up north, and after I had explained it to her, she kept asking. We would be able to sell all five houses to one big corporate customer, and we had already spoken to a property dealer who was trying to find a buyer in order to get a good commission.
That was going to be my biggest break. I had asked the boys to look for a large tract of land on the outskirts of the city where we could develop our own set of buildings, blocks of storey houses and upscale apartments. Things were going according to plan, and I was quietly excited. However, things were not going so well regarding my relationship with Abena.
My buddies Ebo and Nana Kwame had called to say that they met Abena and her friend Jennifer enjoying lunch with a guy, and Ebo believed that Jennifer was ‘promoting’ an affair between Jennifer and the guy. They were of the view that the promotion seemed to be going in the guy’s favour, because only an agricultural extension worker in the north who did not have the resources to take care of a beautiful girl like her.
And apart from being wealthy, the guy comes from an influential family, so Abena had done much better leaving a miserable civil servant like you for him.
“As I’ve already said, I will stop by her place, but I will mind my own business from now. Hey, let’s talk family. How are our parents? And my brothers-in-law? And my nephews and nieces? Why don’t we meet on Sunday? I’m going to drop my bags at my place, and go to see Mama and Dad.”
