Founder of the All Peoples Congress (APC), Hassan Ayariga, has revealed his experience after testing positive for the dreaded coronavirus.
He revealed at a press conference in Accra on Monday November 22 that he spent 17 days in the hospital and 14 days on oxygen.
“Let me use this opportunity to thank God the Almighty for giving me another opportunity to live by saving me from Covid 19 pandemic, and also thank my humble and hardworking wife for her love, support, prayers and dedication through out my struggles with Covid.
“Help me thank all the Doctors, Nurses, EMT and Orderlies of International Maritime hospital (IMAH) for saving my life. And to All those who interceded on my behalf, am very grateful.
“Finally, I want to thank my Father the Chief Imam Dr. Sheikh Osmanu Nuhu Sharubutu for his prayers and blessings including all the Imams, Pastors, families and many Ghanaians who supported me with prayers and their blessings through out my stay in the hospital.
“I spent 17 days in the hospital, 14 days on Oxygen. I must say it was a different experience and I thank God for everything. Let’s all make it a point to go for the Vaccine and protect ourselves and our loved ones. COVID 19 is real and it is not over yet. I am appealing to all Ghanaians to continue to wear their face masks and wash their hands regularly,” he said.
Below is his full statement …
PC PRESS CONFERENCE ON NATIONAL ISSUES ON THE 22nd OF NOVEMBER 2021 BY DR HASSAN AYARIGA.
Ladies and gentlemen of the media, thank you so much for attending this very important press briefing even at a very short notice. Your unflinching support in strengthening our democracy, safeguarding and protecting our constitution has been tremendous. Admittedly, some of you in the media also have shortcomings. Not withstanding, you are part of the few success stories of our democracy today.
I call you here today in my capacity as a citizen first before my party, The All People’s Congress (APC). The day has come for me to add my voice and speak up to power as done by others, so that we can collectively make Ghana a safer and better place to live.
Let me use this opportunity to thank God the Almighty for giving me another opportunity to live by saving me from Covid 19 pandemic, and also thank my humble and hardworking wife for her love, support, prayers and dedication through out my struggles with Covid.
Help me thank all the Doctors, Nurses, EMT and Orderlies of International Maritime hospital (IMAH) for saving my life. And to All those who interceded on my behalf, am very grateful.
Finally, I want to thank my Father the Chief Imam Dr. Sheikh Osmanu Nuhu Sharubutu for his prayers and blessings including all the Imams, Pastors, families and many Ghanaians who supported me with prayers and their blessings through out my stay in the hospital.
I spent 17 days in the hospital, 14 days on Oxygen. I must say it was a different experience and I thank God for everything. Let’s all make it a point to go for the Vaccine and protect ourselves and our loved ones. COVID 19 is real and it is not over yet. I am appealing to all Ghanaians to continue to wear their face masks and wash their hands regularly.
We all know that because of COVID 19 pandemic many nations have gone through lots of economic challenges and Ghana is not an exception. Many countries have gone on their knees begging for support and others too have gotten support for their people. The Global pandemic has caused many peoples lives, livelihood, businesses and worsened unemployment situations. Our country was already suffering before COVID, regardless of government’s propaganda claiming otherwise and it worsened after COVID and I bet we all agree. But I know some stimulus packages were rolled out and many people didn’t get. Government must account to Ghanaians on COVID 19 funds.
Ladies and gentlemen, we are now in serious CRISIS. Our debt stock has increased from Gh120 billion Cedis from 2016 to Gh341 billion cedis in 2021. Our country debts is at its highest peak. Our debt stock is 78% of our GDP. We have borrowed so much and yet, we don’t have good roads, hospitals, schools, and we are still struggling to build markets and yet have nothing to show for borrowing.
In the recent 2022 budget statement, the finance minister Hon. Ken Ofori Atta said their government will introduce Youstart with 1 billion Gh Cedi to create 1 million Jobs. It is good to empower the youth of this country. Let’s hope that it will not increase our debt Stock. One of the policies of the APC is “Create Graduate Financing Fund to support graduates to help start their own business and create jobs. I wish to advise the government to look up to the APC to help roll out that policy very well since they have decided to lift it.
Ladies and Gentlemen of the media, despite the borrowings, old projects which includes schools and hospitals which were initiated by previous governments are at a standstill. Weeds, rodents and pests have taken control of these projects at various villages and communities across the country. Meanwhile, students are still sitting under trees who need a decent classroom to learn. I want the government to know that governance is a continuous business. Am calling on Government as a matter of urgency to complete all abandoned projects.
Ladies and gentlemen, when the finance minister announced the government’s intention to scrap off toll booth fees, many people started talking about the issue of hawkers and the others. I am appealing to government to roll out a policy for street hawkers. I personally think it is a good idea not to take tolls again. I applaud the government for that initiative. Tolls on those dilapidated roads was a reap off. It was our taxes that was used to build those roads and paying roads tolls on them again was wrong.
This morning a dollar equivalent is Gh6,30p respectively. The rate at which the cedi is depreciating is affecting businesses gruesomely. We produce economists every year and yet we cannot manage our Cedi properly. Am very sad that the one time economic guru Dr. Bawumia is now running away from economic fundamentals to digitalisation. Mr. Vice President, kindly remember to digitalise our Ghana Cedi.
If The government thinks digitalisation is the way forward, then They should look for the APC’s 2020 manifesto and implement our policy on “National Data Base.” It will help them understand digitalisation and how it works. Ghana needs a national data system to help build the country devoid of corruption, mismanagement and weak institutions.
When the government decided to implement the new Ghana Card in 2018, I advised them first, to start with a national data base that will help produce a unique Ghana card. But they didn’t listen. As we speak my wife and I applied for our Ghana card since February 2019 and we still don’t have our cards. Many Ghanaians have registered for their cards and still can get access to them. You cannot produce a serious card without a national data system. Now, we are faced with network challenges, missing cards and unprinted cards. People cannot do their daily transactions anymore because of lack of Ghana card. The government has issued directives not to accept any form of identification apart from Ghana card, since when has the Ghana Card become more acceptable than a passport?
The suffering of Ghanaians is never an ending one under this government with unemployment rate witnessing its highest record form. In all these, we continue to get conflicting figures from government appointees who are very skilful at quoting figures without shame each time they are confronted with questions on job creation.
Government Needs to create an enabling environment for businesses to strive. We have used all our resources to guarantee for loans, and we have not outlined any measures to pay back.
Ladies and gentlemen, government had just announced a 1,75% E-levy on mobile money transaction. Some sections of Ghanaians are worried. Yes we are worried because we pay when sending money and also pay when receiving money. The government must sit with the Telecos to agree on one way payment. Ghanaians cannot pay 2.75% when sending and again pay another 2.75% when receiving the same money. It is double taxation on the same transaction.
Fellow Ghanaians, going forward as a nation in indebtedness, “Do We continue to BORROW or Do WE TAX? I believe we have gotten to the crossroad where borrowing is not an option anymore but taxation is the best option for us now. We need to widen our tax network and institute proper channels to collect tax properly. We cannot continue to borrow. We have to move from borrowing to production, manufacturing and taxation. Nations are better off when its citizens decide to contribute towards its development. The Taxes we pay should be used to build Schools, Roads, hospitals, homes and infrastructure etc.
Now my Question is, can we trust the Government to make good decisions with our Taxes? We need roads, Hospitals, schools, housing projects etc.
This country is suffering due to the loud silence from the Clergy, Peace Council and some civil society organisations whose voices have always been loud enough at other times but have suddenly gone to sleep and not awaken. What has changed? Let us all rise above pettiness and greed. Let us speak truth to power and save our country from sinking.
The people of Ghana are suffering, some cannot even afford three square meals a day. The hardship is killing people slowly. Let us not keep mute and refuse to talk on behalf of our people who do not have a voice of their own. Fuel prices and other utility tariffs are on the rise almost every day, transport fares are increased every week and thereby worsening the plight of the citizens. Many are in deplorable situations.
Ladies and gentlemen, finally, let me comment on the issue of LBGTQ and its debate in Ghana. Our country Ghana is dominated by Christians, Moslems and traditional worshipers. We are a nation of believers and traditions. As a Muslim I support the bill and I want Ghanaians to know that we CANNOT accept such barbaric behaviour or act in our society. What will be the fate of this country if a woman or man decide to marry a dog or horse. What kind of human species will we be introducing in the world. Let’s think twice.
This time let’s put political partisanship aside and stand firm to make the right decision for our country Ghana. Let us not allow the constitution to give people the right to abuse their own rights. Our culture and traditions do not permit such abominable acts.
In conclusion, I wish to draw our attention to the issues of the challenges affecting our lands and natural resources, we are losing all our lands, properties and sovereignty to foreigners all in the name of money and we must wake up quickly to save our resources for the future generations. I believe we must all act to defend our nation
I thank you all for coming
Dr. Hassan Ayariga
APC Leader/Founder
By Laud Nartey|3news.com|Ghana