The swift intervention of the Speaker of Parliament, Prof Mike Oquaye, saved the life of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Member of Parliament (MP) for Binduri in the Upper East region, Dr Robert Kuganab-Lem.
He allegedly fell into a state of unconsciousness while attending a health conference in December last year.
The speaker expressed concern about MP’s health conditions after Mr Kuganab-Lem – who is also the deputy ranking member of the Health Committee of the house – had made a profound statement on the floor yesterday to thank him (speaker) and the Parliamentary Service for the immense assistance offered him when he was suddenly taken ill in Tokyo, Japan.
The speaker said that the authorities in Japan conveyed to him how serious the MP’s condition was and that health experts at the Saikei General Hospital, Tokyo – where the MP was treated – had urgently recommended that his wife be made to come and see the husband.
The speaker explained that when the message got to him, he quickly authorized that the wife be flown to Japan at the expense of Parliament.
Mr Kuganab-Lem indicated that apart from the material help, Speaker Mike Oquaye also prayed for him and God thankfully listened to the prayers.
He thanked the Minister for Roads and Highways and New Patriotic Party (NPP) MP for Atiwa West, Kwasi Amoako-Attah, for taking time off his busy schedule to visit him in Japan while on an official visit.
The Binduri MP was also grateful to the Metropolitan Catholic Archbishop of Accra, Palmer-Buckle, who also found time to visit him in Japan as well as staff of the Ghana Embassy in that country.
The MP, a medical doctor by profession, told DAILY GUIDE that he was sponsored by the European Parliament with the support of the Ghanaian Parliament to attend a seminar on universal health coverage in Tokyo when the unfortunate incident happened.
According to him, he was one of six African MPs who were invited for the seminar.
The first deputy minority chief whip, Ahmed Ibrahim, was particularly grateful to the speaker for helping to save the life of their colleague.
He advised, “We must take our health seriously and go for regular check-ups.”
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