Liberia’s opposition leader Winston Tubman in Ghana for medical treatment after collapse – Report

Standard bearer (flag bearer) of Liberia’s opposition Congress for Democratic Change (CDC) Counselor Winston Tubman, is in Ghana to receive medical attention after he was reported to have collapsed, the Liberian Daily Observer reports October 21, 2011.

A source at the United Nations Hospital in Liberia where Tubman was first rushed to after he was knocked down by malaria, told the publication that the opposition leader has been flown to Ghana owing  to his worsening health condition.

Tubman, who is expected to participate in a presidential runoff election with incumbent Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf on November 8, 2011 according to sources, was flown to Accra, Ghana, October 20, 2011 afternoon based on advice from his doctors, according to the Daily Observer.

But other sources said the CDC standard bearer was battling with pressure that needed emergency medical attention, according to the newspaper.

Acarous Moses Gray, CDC secretary general told the publication on phone that Tubman has gone to hold consultations with leaders in the West African sub region on the elections in Liberia.

“Cllr. Tubman was only suffering from malaria like any other person. He is now in an unknown country in the sub region, holding talks about the future of Liberia,” Gray said.

Meanwhile, Monrovia-based news publication, the New Dawn, reports that due to the health situation of Mr Tubman, the CDC is considering the possibility of putting forward Vice Standard Bearer George Manneh Weah to replace him in the pending run-off presidential election.

However, keen election observers say such possibility is slim with reports that the National Elections Commission has already begun printing ballot papers for the run-off, it said.

By Ekow Quandzie