The Director of the World Health Organisation (WHO) Collaborating Centre for Advocacy and Training in Pharmaco vigilance in Ghana, Prof Alex Dodoo, has rendered an unconditional and irrevocable apology to Ghana's parliament for his comments to the effect that members' handling of news of an Ebola vaccine trial in Ghana was clothed with ignorance.
He rendered the apology Tuesday through his counsel, Yoni Kulendi, before the Privileges Committee of parliament that is probing his comments deemed insulting to members.
He did not and cannot insult the house or its members given the high regard he holds parliamentarians and, indeed, any claim that he set out to insult the house would be inconsistent with his own disciplined character, Kulendi said on his behalf.
Kulendi, who defended his own profuse apology when the chairman of the committee and First Deputy Speaker, Ebo Barton Odro attempted to interject him, insisted the apology cannot be sufficient enough especially in matters as is before the committee.
Voicing a familiar plea, he rendered the apology to parliament as a collective and to individual members as well as all who may feel offended by Prof Dodoo's comments, saying it could have been one of those things said in the heat of submissions.
Last month the parliamentary committee also began a probe into claims by musician and radio presenter, Blakk Rasta that a number of parliamentarians use marijuana. He has since apologised to the house.
Prof Dodoo is yet to mount the witness box in the probe that could last a number of days. Already about four witnesses including Ho West MP, Emmanuel Kwesi Bedzra; Volta Regional Minister, Helen Ntoso and MP for Hohoe, Dr Bernice Adiku Heloo.
The Ebola vaccine trial has engendered bitter discussions across board, with opinions divided over the safety of the exercise while others have focused also on the propriety of parliament's own handling of the matter.
Source: Daily Graphic
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