The Minister of Health has courted the anger of Parliament for daring to begin clinical trials for the deadly ebola disease without notifying the people's representatives.
The angry MPs unanimously demanded the cessation of the trials with the minister hauled before Parliament to explain why he took such a bold decision without informing Parliament.
The Ministry was set to begin the trials in the Volta Region having already located volunteers some of whom were said to have been promised 200 cedis and a mobile phone each as an incentive to participate in the trials.
But the action by the minister has not only provoked fear and panic in the region where the trials were to take place but has got MPs all the more angry.
On the floor of Parliament Wednesday, the MPs took turns to condemn the clinical trials for a deadly virus which has claimed over 4000 lives mostly in three African countries- Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea.
"How do we try such a deadly and unthinkable disease we have prayed against?" Have we finished trying it on rats mice and chimpanzees; are we inviting the virus in this country? We shouldn't suspend; it should be stopped," one MP fired on the floor.
Adansi Asokwa MP, KT Hammond described the decision to go ahead with the clinical trial as "silly."
"The minister must appear to answer before the House why he allowed this trial without informing Parliament," he said.
Another MP said this cannot be allowed to go on in the country without Parliament knowing about it.
"The matter is so serious," he stated, and pleaded with the Speaker of Parliament to give directions for the cessation of the trials.
Speaker Doe Adjaho heard the cries of the MPs and directed the trials be halted immediately.
He also directed the Minister of Health Alex Segbefia to appear before the business committee of Parliament to answer why the trials were approved without any word to Parliament.
He said Parliament is not against the scientific research but for such a trial to be undertaken, due process must be followed.
"The process should be suspended till further notice," he ordered.
Joy News' Parliamentary correspondent Elton John Brobbey reported that Parliament may have indirectly empowered the clinical trial to be undertaken in Ghana following the passage of the Public Health Act in 2012.
The Act allows such trials to be undertaken in Ghana.
Asked why Parliament is criticizing the implementation of a law it has passed, MP for Ho Central Benjamin Kpodo said the House is not against the trials per se but it is questioning the procedures being used.
"We are not against research institutions undertaking clinical trial...we have to differentiate between vaccine trials like polio and the one for ebola.
"If you have polio I will hold your hand but for ebola i will run," he stated.
He also questioned the 200 cedis and mobile phone incentive being given to the volunteers of the ebola.
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