Hannah Bissiw
The Women’s Organiser of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), Hannah Bissiw, says the government’s deployment of drones to deliver essential medical supplies, including blood, to remote communities in the country, is just a ploy by the Akufo-Addo administration.
She claims the drones are going to be used to take videos and pictures of naked women in the villages for reasons she did not explain.
“There are hidden cameras in the drones they are bringing. I am telling Nana Addo and his Bawumia that somebody can sit by the computer and easily film or take pictures of women bathing in the villages,” the NDC Women’s Organizer, who is a veterinary doctor and former minister, claimed.
“That thing can take pictures so when it passes by your village and your bathroom, it will take pictures. So the men listening to me; those drones can take pictures of your naked wives when they are bathing,” Dr Bissiw said.
She disclosed this on Saturday at Asamankese in the Eastern Region during a programme organized for Constituency Women Organisers by the Regional Women’s Organiser, Shirley Naana Osei Ampem.
The NDC’s veterinary doctor has a penchant for insulting her political opponents, including President Akufo-Addo.
Addressing the gathering, Dr. Bissiw, who is also a former Member of Parliament (MP) for Tano South, said: “You know in our villages our bathrooms are not covered so the men who are listening to me should bear in mind that they are going to capture the nakedness of your wives. They can capture your wives’ butts and breasts.”
She said: “When it gets to your house and the operator decides to make a video or capture the image of women bathing, they can easily do it.”
The former minister, who also incited the public against the drone service, said: “As for me, when I see a drone over me, I will hit it with a stick.”
“We don’t need drones. We need ambulances, especially the ones John Mahama brought. They should let the CHPS compound become operational.”
NDC Rejects Drones
The NDC Minority has constantly kicked against the $12 million drone contract with Zipline International Incorporated to deliver emergency health and blood products to public health facilities in remote communities in the country.
Joseph Yieleh Chireh, the Minority Spokesperson on Health, downplayed the significance of the service agreement between the government and Zipline for the use of drone technology to deliver blood and other health supplies nationwide, describing it as a misplaced priority.
But the Health Minister, Kwaku Agyeman-Manu, maintained that the service cost is still $88,000 per month, and that the cost would be borne by the donor community and not the government since public funds would not be used to pay for the services.
Dr Nana Ayew Afriye, the Vice Chairman of the Health Committee and New Patriotic Party (NPP) Member of Parliament for Effiduase/Asokore, also cautioned the Minority to stop doing politics with matters affecting the health of the people.
The MP for Effiduase/Asokore stressed that “the NDC always identifies itself with the poor in the society, and now that a contract is being awarded to supply essential drugs and blood products to the poor people receiving medical attention at Community-based Health Planning Services (CHPS) in very remote communities, the NDC is kicking against it.”
He, therefore, urged the Minority NDC to recognize the importance of timely medical care for the poor.
From Daniel Bampoe, Koforidua