Formation of NDC coronavirus team has been positive - Alex Segbefia

A former health minister under the erstwhile National Democratic Congress (NDC) government, Mr. Alex Segbefia has alluded to the fact that the formation of the COVID-19 technical team by the party has served the nation good.

Contrary to claims that the formation of the team on the Coronavirus disease by the opposition was not necessary, he said that assertion is wrong because it has provided alternatives to the government to help deal with the outbreak.

Speaking in an interview on Frontline on Rainbow Radio 87.5Fm, he said the NDC does not see the COVID-19 as a parallel institution because they do not have the resources for it.

The technical team was set up to lead the party’s public advocacy and sensitisation activities on the COVID-19.

The team will also collaborate with the government, upon request, on the fight against the pandemic.

Mr. Segbefia explained that ”the team has an expertise of not a pandemic but a potential epidemic coming to our shores in the Ebola crisis and so we have had some experience in crisis management or preparation for crisis management during the Ebola crisis which we thought could be brought to bear, and advice could be given on what we have done”.

He also stated the NDC as the largest opposition party also felt the need to update its followers on the coronavirus outbreak.

To him, it is good to have the political parties speaking on the outbreak.

The president he noted has even affirmed this assertion and that was why he invited political parties to the Jubilee House recently.

”So when you put all these things together, and when you see what we have done since we came in, and the recommendations we have put forward, many of which have been accepted by [the] government you then begin to realise that actually, it was very positive move the NDC to form the COVID-19 team.”