Take “cruel” Ebola trial to Bole - NPP chair tells Prez Mahama

President John Dramani Mahama has been asked to adopt his hometown, Bole, as the city to host planned Ebola phase one clinical trial, which is scheduled to take place in the Volta Regional town of Hohoe.

The Volta regional chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), John Peter Amewu, made the call in an interview with Accra-based Adom FM.

Although Parliament has ordered a halt to the trial, following a public outcry, Mr Amewu is peeved that the Volta Region was selected for the exercise in the first place.

According to him, the region had been taken for granted for far too long.

Mr Amewu said: “I think he [President Mahama] should send the initiative to Bole – where he comes from. His parents are there, his friends and family are there too. Why is he bringing it to Volta region? Why did the Speaker asked that it should be stopped?

“He should go to Bole and practice it there. This government has taken the Volta region for granted for far too long because this is the region they know whether we listen to them or not we’ll vote for them. That is the reason why they are bringing such cruel activity practiced on human beings here.”

“We have seen the impact of such trials on people all over the world and I don’t think the people of Volta region should pay for it. The chiefs and good people of Volta region I don’t think will accept these practices. This government has not been fair to us at all. And if he really wants to undertake this activity why is he bringing it to Volta region and not Bole.”

Meanwhile,  an Associate Professor of the University of Ghana, Professor Alex Dodoo, has condemned suspension of the Ebola trial.

“People have gotten it so wrong and it is sad. It is sad for the country, it is sad for science,” he said.