A well intentioned but otherwise badly timed speech by our deputy minister of health Dr Benjamin Kumbour has gone and opened up some old wounds in the eyes, minds, thoughts and sentiments of most diasporean doctors, health workers and other proffessional work groups for that matter.
His charge? Well speaking at a four day health conference at the KATH, he asked all diasporean doctors to come back home and help with the emerging challenges and environments facing health care delivery in Ghana today. To say this has incensed the majority of the diasporean fraternity is an understatement and i will stress on the most notable points most people have raised.

CITIZENRY RIGHTS...DUAL NATIONALITY.

Many were the voices who thought that an appeal like that was 'VERY RICH' coming out of the mouth of a government who denied them their right to their Ghanaian Nationality based on their naturalisation on their sojourn which has disabled them to take part in civic activities such as voting or taking up public offices and accompanying official duties.
To them, such an appeal based on the fact that their expertise is needed because it is crunch time is like a slap in the face and a hypocritical statement of sorts. In other words; ''we are not fit for purpose where our nationality is concerned but good enough to come down and help an ailing health sector''
Some were also very vocal about how a tempestous regime caused them to walk away in the first place and how even now, negative tribal and party sentiments associated with the democratic proccess makes them uneasy about their land of birth and any plans of relocating have been shelved for fear of reprisals.

CHARITY BEGINS AT HOME

Some people are chanting the above slogan and what they are trying to say is simple. For a government to ask them to come home and help, they need to see that their compatriots back home are living the big easy in terms of good rates of pay, work related incentives, world class medical equipment as befits their training and suitable health centres and appropriate departments which would equally reflect on them.
Infact some were of the opinion that there isn't even enough hospitals to go round as the vast majority of the population had no access to a healthcare centre anyway so it would only mean getting crammed into urban centres and they wont feel the far reaching results of their work.
Associated social headaches of electricity, good roads and transport and communication and safe drinking water for logistical support were also raised, and it was well noted about how even ambulances had become a dying breed in A&E DEPARTMETS and a whole nation can only boast of less than 4 CT SCANNERS.
It didn't end there, because others were quick to point out the age at which Ghanaian doctors were retired; a ripe and wise age for doctors at 60yrs as in their opinion they actually reach their peak in perfection of medicine at that time and see it as a waste of ones prime in a proffession.
The eagle eyed ones were also quick to point out the medical shame of Ghana where the very ministers who are making a call for congregating are the very ones who will have no qualms about hopping on airships to go abroad and cure their ailments without patronising local homegrown expertise.

Amongst the furore were the socially moderate ones who still thought it was patriotic to go back home especially as people had benefited from the system to which there were two different kinds of voices raised. There were those who had been awarded scholarships of sorts but had been left to rot in surburbia because for months on end they dont recieve their bursary and are forced to sleep rough abroad and go without; an experience that has left a sour taste in their mouth and left them disillusioned about bringing it all back home after they graduate for fear of being left hopeless once again.
The other side were those who claimed they had no benefit from state and had only their parents and family to look up to from scratch and do not see why they should relinquish their well earned proffessions and heed a call by politicians who do not lead by example.

WE ARE NOT WELCOME NOR ACCEPTED WARMLY.

In the midst of all the angst directed at politicians, the home crowd got their fair share of tongue lashes too. Many diasporean proffessionals were of the view that the local experts did not take kindly to them pointing out their flaws when they proffer their more advanced methods and are often labelled as ''TOO KNOWN'' a trait most Ghanaians are noted for whenever anybody proves to be too sharp, well read or worldly wise.
This friction and lack of cooperation has often led to a few medical disasters mostly because the local expertise stood their ground making their diasporean counterparts helpless in their foreigness.
There is also the small matter of integration when people have wanted to practise back home, but are run through the system for yonks as if they haven't already qualified in the first place which at the best of times can be seen as a waste of time, money and expertise. And so the debate rages on with some unusual reason dotted here and there too.

NA WHO CAUSE AM MATTER?

Definitely a topic for conversation that will go on for longer and touch other facets of disporean living and the long journey back home in every proffessional capacity as the prevailing conditions can be alluded to other proffessions as well.
But the fact remains that the minister has definitely touched a raw nerve and hopefully they will go back to the drawing board and take some very important factors into consideration. Citizens opinions are good and an eye opener. Whether they are supportive or objective they do help shape up the path for progression in the annals of any country's history and it will be very interesting to see if any lessens are learnt.