Minister of Health designate, Dr. Bernard Okoe Boye, has made a commitment to allocate all proceeds generated from the sale of his book “Fellow Ghanaians” towards the construction of new wards at hospitals in the Nkoranza Municipality of the Bono East Region and Lekma Hospital in the Greater Accra region.
The book “Fellow Ghanaians” offers a comprehensive narrative detailing Ghana’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic, highlighting the “whole of government and whole of society” approach adopted.
It chronicles the timeline from the initial discovery of the virus in Ghana to the rapid development, adoption, and execution of containment measures.
Additionally, the book covers the imposition of restrictions, the procurement and distribution of vaccines, and the subsequent relaxation of these restrictions by Ghanaian authorities.
During the launch of the first copy of “Fellow Ghanaians” in Accra, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo presided over the event, where the first copy was sold for GH¢1 million to Dr. Joseph Siaw Agyepong of Jospong Group.
Subsequent copies were purchased by Tobinco Group and an anonymous individual for GH¢500,000 each.
The Chief of Staff, acting on behalf of the President, bought the fourth copy for GH¢200,000, while the remaining copies were auctioned for prices ranging from GH¢10,000 to GH¢1,000.
Dr. Okoe Boye emphasized the importance of documenting Ghana’s journey in combating COVID-19 as a member of the response team. He believes that the book’s publication sets Ghana apart as the only country to have documented its pandemic response in such detail.
“This book was written absolutely out of an effort to tell our story ourselves, to honor the memory of those we lost, and to acknowledge the courage of the nation’s leader in those perilous times. There is no commercial intent behind it; in pursuit of this position, all inflows from this auction and sales of this book will go to the building of health facilities in Nkoranza in the Bono East Region as well as the Lekma Hospital in the Greater Accra region” he stated.
During his address, President Akufo-Addo emphasized that “Fellow Ghanaians” is more than just a title—it serves as a significant representation of the unity that unites us as a nation. He commended Dr. Okoe Boye for authoring the book, noting its importance as a historical record for future generations to understand how Ghana tackled the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“The title of the book by one of the exceptional young appointees in my government is truly humbling. It is the testament of the resilience and strength of the Ghanaian spirit, even in the face of unprecedented challenges. It is the tribute of the complex acts of kindness, courage, and sacrifice that define our response to the pandemic.
But beyond its significance to me personally, ‘Fellow Ghanaians’ represents something much greater; it is the symbol of hope and inspiration for future generations, a reminder that even in our darkest times, we can find light and strength in our unity.”
The President stressed, “As we reflect on the pages of this book and the account it contains, let us remember the lessons we have learned and the progress we have made; let us commit ourselves to the values that bind us together as Ghanaians — compassion, resilience, and solidarity.”