A few years ago, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, Member of Parliament for North Tongu, became a prominent figure in the public outcry against the practice of government officials seeking medical care abroad.
During the tenure of the then Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, who sought treatment overseas, Ablakwa, alongside social commentators like Kofi Asare, and Ransford Gyampo led a strong campaign against foreign treatment.
They insisted that the University of Ghana Medical Centre (UGMC) was well-equipped and capable of handling any medical case, including that of the Vice President.
In fact, Ablakwa went further, passionately advocating for a policy that would ban government officials from seeking medical treatment abroad.
He argued that such actions were a disgrace to the country and its healthcare infrastructure. His rhetoric painted a picture that any leader who chose to seek medical care outside Ghana was undermining the nation’s self-sufficiency.
Fast forward to today, and the news breaks that Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang, the current Vice President of Ghana, has been flown abroad for medical treatment.
Strangely, there has been an almost deafening silence from Okudzeto Ablakwa who was Naana’s deputy as Education Minister. There have been no tweets, no press conferences, and most significantly, no passionate calls for a ban on medical trips abroad — a stark contrast to the fervor he displayed in the past when it was Dr. Bawumia.
This raises several important questions: Where is the policy now, Honorable Minister? Has the University of Ghana Medical Centre suddenly lost its world-class status? What has changed between then and now? Or is the absence of outcry simply because the person seeking treatment abroad is from the same political party?
At the time of the previous outcry, Okudzeto Ablakwa repeatedly expressed his strong opposition to the idea of government officials seeking treatment overseas.
He passionately argued that leaders should set an example by using the country’s own health facilities.
However, now that he is in a position of greater power — serving as Ghana’s Foreign Affairs Minister — the policy he once championed is no longer necessary. Instead, the silence surrounding the Vice President’s medical treatment abroad speaks volumes.
One might have expected that as Foreign Minister, this would be the ideal time for Ablakwa to push through the very policy he once advocated for.
However, what we see is an absence of action or commentary on the matter. There are no fiery Facebook posts, no impassioned speeches, and no public discussions of the importance of strengthening the local healthcare system.
The stark contrast in Okudzeto Ablakwa’s response to medical treatment abroad when it involves the opposition party, versus when it involves a member of his own political party, raises accusations of political hypocrisy.
His public stance has shifted remarkably, and this apparent double standards have left many questioning his true commitment to the policies he once championed.
It’s easy to criticize when one is not in power, but when the responsibilities of governance come to bear, many politicians find themselves humbled by reality.
This hypocrisy — the shift from vocal opposition to silent approval — is a clear example of how political posturing can give way to convenience when the tables are turned.
This situation highlights why many Ghanaians are skeptical of some politicians.
The glaring double standards undermine public trust, as they demonstrate that political leaders may not be as principled as they appear when they are in opposition.
So, we must ask once again: Okudzeto Ablakwa, when will the policy to ban medical trips abroad be enforced? Or has the reality of power changed your principles? Perhaps, just perhaps, it is time to acknowledge that political rhetoric is much easier than governing a country, and that real leadership requires more than just social media commentary.
