Many Ghanaians on social media have expressed anger over the death of an elderly man at a major hospital in Ghana’s capital Accra.
Ghana’s health officials confirmed the country’s fourth death from coronavirus on Friday but did not elaborate on the identity of the deceased.
But it has emerged according to local reporting that the said elderly man who died from the virus is father of a top musician in Ghana.
Musician, Bice Osei Kuffour popularly known as ‘Obour’ confirmed the death of his father who happens to be the said elderly patient.
The circumstance under which Obour’s father Nana Osei Boansi Kuffour died is what has sparked outrage in Ghana.
According to local reporting, his father returned recently from the UK and did not self-isolate but after developing symptoms of coronavirus, he was rushed to the Ridge hospital in Accra for treatment.
Health workers taken by surprise?
The health workers there were reported to be unaware of the patients condition so did not handle him as a coronavirus patient.
They only got to know of this when his test results came back positive, by then he had died.
It has resulted in fears among health workers that attended to the patient that they could be at risk of infection.
But the Musician who is the immediate past President of the Musicians Union of Ghana in a statement sort to explain circumstances under which his father died.
He said his father returned “from UK on 19th March after his yearly visit to the family. Upon his return, he was fine but began coughing on Sunday 22nd.
We arranged for his blood sample to be tested and he tested positive for malaria.
We began treatment for malaria but his condition got worse. We arranged to bring him to Accra to be tested for Covid 19 at Ridge Hospital on Wednesday.
They informed us that his report will be ready on Friday but we should keep him in quarantine which we did.”
Obour denied claims health workers were not aware of his father’s condition saying “We informed the health team at Ridge of his condition and also informed them he had earlier taken a test for Covid and awaiting results.
Late this afternoon, the Drs informed us that he is likely to be a confirmed Covid case and as such we should take steps to do a contact trace and quarantine ourselves. Sadly he passed on this evening.”
Anger among Ghanaians
But social media, Ghanaians are expressing anger about the whole incident.
Wait what the actual Helll!! Please tell me this Obour issue is NOT true! Cos there is no way someone will Lie and delay proper treatment of your father and also selfishly put other people’s life at risk? No it actually can’t be!!! It must be a Hoax!
— AJ Akuoko-Sarpong (@ajsarpong) March 27, 2020
Obour did that on purpose, am sure he knew his father has contracted the virus so his black mind he laid back for the health workers to get infected. The laws should deal with him
— Malvo (@jrblopa) March 27, 2020
Obour’s @obourbice father died ?
He traveled to the U.S didn’t disclose this to the front line health workers at Ridge when he was rushed to the hospital. All front line health workers who came into contact with him ve been told to self isolate… #coronavirus #COVID2019Ghana
— Coronavirus (@CoronavirusGh1) March 27, 2020
So Obour took his father to Ridge hospital that he was sick and later told his family members to lie about it .The man was infected with Coronavirus and he didn’t tell anyone that his dad has got it .The man is dead now and we’re all scared by the people he affected ??
— ??Mempeasem President ???? (@AsieduMends) March 27, 2020
Ghana so far has recorded 137 cases of coronavirus with four deaths. The country has taken measures including closing its borders and banning public gathering to fight the spread of the virus.
Zimbabwean journalist who died of Covid-19 had no water, used bucket toilet
Source: Africafeeds.com
