Agbana Edem Eric, Member of Parliament for Ketu North, has publicly reprimanded Dr. David Tenkorang Twum, General Secretary of the Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association (GRNMA), over the latter’s comments regarding the Health Minister’s visit to Ridge Hospital following the alleged assault incident involving a nurse.
Speaking on Metro TV’s “Good Morning Ghana monitored by Kumasimail,” Agbana described Dr. Tenkorang’s remarks as “cheap propagandist” attacks and questioned the professionalism and training of the GRNMA leader.
The MP questioned, “Is that the training you received? You’re not even fit to teach at the University of Ghana (Legon).”
Agbana took issue with Tenkorang’s approach to criticizing the Health Minister, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, emphasizing that until the minister’s appointed investigative committee concludes its work, no party should be condemned based on incomplete information.
Agbana stated, “Looking at the videos available is not enough to reach a conclusion. That is why a committee was established, and we will wait for their findings before making any judgments.”
He strongly criticized Dr. Tenkorang for what he described as unprofessionalism and immaturity in launching personal attacks against the Health Minister.
Agbana accused the General Secretary of exploiting his position and political affiliation (“a cheap propagandist of the NPP”) to defame the sector minister.
He stated “We know you as a cheap propagandist of the npp I know him for a fact. He’s lecturing at Legon but that does not give you a ticket to use this to launch attacks on sector minister in such unhealthy manner.
“If you are speaking for nurses, speak the for nurses in a manner that reflects professionalism and I know many professional nurses and midwives who even this morning sent me messages to disagree with the approach of Dr Tenkorang, you don’t do that to the sector minister,” Agbana added.
He noted that many professional nurses and midwives expressed disagreement with Tenkorang’s approach, underlining that true professionals conduct themselves differently.
Agbana defended Minister Akandoh’s proactive response to the incident at Ridge Hospital, stating that the minister rushed to the scene, engaged all parties involved, and set up the committee to investigate.
He challenged the logic behind criticizing the minister for interacting amicably with one of the accused, Ralph St. Williams, calling it unreasonable to expect immediate aggressive action without due process.
Agbana indicated, “Why, Dr Tenkorang with all his level of education was he expecting that Hon Akandoh at the scene(Ridge Hospital) will be the one to handcuff Ralph and say you’ve being accused of this and that…what is the person crime that he was seen talking to the person you claim is the accused for that reason moving from one station to another attacking him please some of this characters do not even deserve to lead a union like the GRNMA.”
Highlighting his close ties with nursing professionals in his family and social circles, Agbana argued that the behavior portrayed by Dr. Tenkorang does not reflect the professionalism of the nursing community.
He stressed “I have nurses at my family, I know the professionalism with which they go about their work. I’ve many nurses friends many midwives friends and they are not people who reflect the kind of immaturity that the likes of Dr Tenkorang is portraying as if he’s speaking for them.”
He urged that the incident should be used to address deeper welfare issues affecting nurses rather than serving as a tool for partisan attacks on government officials.
Agbana argued “How do we support these people? But you don’t use this incident as an avenue, a tool to go on your cheap partisan propagandist agenda attacking the minister, calling him names, even saying that the minister is a farmer and not a professional.”
Agbana also criticized Dr. Tenkorang’s derogatory remarks questioning the minister’s background as a farmer, stressing the importance of respecting diverse professional and personal backgrounds.
“Are you saying that somebody who is a farmer cannot discern right from wrong or develop policies? This kind of character should not lead a union,” Agbana remarked.
Agbana continued “Hon Akandoh was the ranking member on health in the 8th Parliament, if there is any voice who has spoken more for nurses and health professionals in this country, it is certainly Akandoh. Hon Akandoh, as ranking member on health, in the 8th Parliament of the Republic of Ghana, on many occasions, stood by nurses, fought for their interests, their welfare and is the one that actually was like a pillar behind all of these unions, encouraging government to serve them right.
“Today, he is minister because you are a cheap propagandist and a member of a different political party, you are riding on the union to perpetuate this immaturity as PR, this irresponsible act of PR, launching attacks on the minister, he must be condemned,” he remarked.
The MP expressed his anger at what he described as shameful and embarrassing conduct unworthy of a university lecturer’s status, calling on leaders within the nursing community to exercise maturity, respect, and professionalism in their public engagements.
“I am condemning him because he’s not even fit to be a lecturer at the University of Ghana. Please, these characters should not be tolerated. I’m very angry about this situation. How do you describe the sector minister in that manner? Very unprofessional. Is that a training you received? Shameful embarrassing,” he concluded.
Source: www.Kumasimail/Kwadwo Owusu
