We did not injure your image, stop the pity party – Johnnie Hughes slams Agyeman-Manu

TV3’s broadcaster and NewDay host,Mr Johnnie Beresford Hughes  has slammed the Minister of Health, Mr Kweku Agyeman-Manu following his comment he does not have any image in Ghana now because of  the Sputnik V saga.

Speaking on Johnnie’s Bite on TV3 NewDay on Friday, November 26, monitored by GhanaPlus.com, Mr Hughes said Ghanaians are not responsible for any harm done to the minister’s image and advised him to stop the pity party.

Mr Hughes described the minister comment as a blackmail adding the minister was responsible for his current predicament owing to his own utterances.

He opined the minister have not been truthful to Ghanaians in many things and advised, he acknowledge, admit and apologies for failing to live up to expectation instead of the pity party.

“We didn’t injure your image, Mr Minister, we are not responsible for injuring your image because you told us that you are resting at the University of Ghana Medical Center, you told us. The President came to say that you were not resting you have contracted COVID. Later Information Minister Oppong Nkrumah came to tell us that he has spoken to you and you are in high spirit and you were also dealing with the situation at home after you have been discharged from the University of Ghana Medical Center so we have done nothing to your image,” Mr Hughes said.

Johnnie Hughes slams Agyeman-Manu over Sputnik V, La General Hospital, Others

The renowned broadcaster reminded the Minister of the promises he made to Ghanaian which have been responsible for his said bad reputation in the country.

“Are you not the same person who came to tell us that we have not committed any funds to buying Sputnik V vaccine only for us to learn later that you have contracted a middleman. We find out later that you have contracted and you had tried to get some 300,00 doses which the President mentioned in his 25^th address….We didn’t put it there for the president so we have not done anything to your image, you have injured your image, the President trusted you,” he added.

“…………… And Mr Minister, do you remember that when the Akufo-Addo led government came into power you told us that the University of Ghana Medical Centre was not fit for purpose and is not ready for use? Only for us to go and  investigate and find out later that it was ready for use and that you even went to take a rest there. Are you not the same minister who came to tell us that work was starting La General Hospital because a hospital was there. You went to demolish the hospital, you said you were starting it. We are in 2021, the people of La are asking where the hospital is?. The hospital is still there , is still a bare ground for rodents and insect. We didn’t ask you to say those things, you said those things yourself so stop wallowing in a pity party . Stop organizing the pity party and emotional parties,” Mr Hughes stressed.

I have no image in Ghana – Agyeman-Manu

Ghana Health Minister, Mr Kweku Agyeman- Manu while speaking the floor of Parliament on Thursday, November 25 said he have been vilify to the extent that he has no image in the country all due a foiled  Sputnik V COVID-19 vaccine deal.

“Mr. Speaker, I am so amazed. When I was rushing to get some vaccines to do vaccinations quickly to meet our development targets, I was found culpable of not coming to Parliament and I was lambasted to the extent that now I don’t have any image in this country,” he said.

 Overpriced Sputnik V middlemen brouhaha

The Minister has not been the favourite of many Ghanaians following a report that Ghana  had purchased the Sputnik V vaccine at $19 per dose instead of the ex-factory price of $10.

The news first reported by a Norwegian news outlet,  Verdens Gang also revealed the country was purchasing the vaccine from the manufacturers through an intermediaries.

The deal had since been abrogated and fund paid retrieved following public outcry and inability of the intermediaries to fulfill the part of the deal despite some GHC16million advance payment made.

The minister was said not to have followed proper laid down procedures with regard to international transactions including seeking parliamentary approval.

Mr Agyeman-Manu has since admitted not thinking properly at the time of making the deal.

He has however yet to rendered an apology to Ghanaians.

Source: GhanaPlus.com