By Josephine W. Lagawo –
The Chairperson of the Parliamentary Oversight Committee on Health, Hon. Bernadette Wuyatta Songa, has ordered the closure of ECOMED Laboratory on Kingharam Road. This decision was made after Mr. Baryoh, who manages the laboratory, appeared before the committee on February 19, 2025, and failed to provide crucial documents related to the operation of the facility.
Mr. Baryoh was unable to submit the required documents, which included the staff list, information on staff salaries, details of both local and international staff, test costs, and confirmation of NASSIT (National Social Security and Insurance Trust) payments for staff. He arrived at Committee Room No. 1 without any of the requested documents in hand.
Hon. Songa asked Mr. Baryoh if he had received the committee’s letter, to which he confirmed he had. When asked if he had brought the letter with him, Mr. Baryoh responded that he received it on February 9th, 2025. Hon. Songa questioned why, after ten days from receiving the letter, he had not brought the necessary documentation. Mr. Baryoh mentioned he had forwarded the NASSIT tax clearance, but Hon. Songa pointed out that the document was not present before the committee, and none of the members had received it.
Mr. Baryoh attempted to explain, stating he had contacted the Clerk of Parliament, but Hon. Songa firmly told him that it was not his place to negotiate with the Clerk. She emphasized that the committee’s request for documents was a parliamentary instruction, and it was not an issue for negotiation or pleading.
Hon. Songa also addressed allegations that Mr. Baryoh had claimed to have connections with members of Parliament. He denied making such a statement, but Hon. Songa asserted that this was an example of Mr. Baryoh taking Parliament for granted. She noted that the committee had sent him the letter on February 7, 2025, and that he had received it on February 9.
As tensions escalated, Mr. Baryoh explained he was still compiling the documents, to which Hon. Songa questioned why it had taken so long. He claimed it would take less than 72 hours to gather the necessary paperwork.
In the face of continued non-compliance, Hon. Songa ordered the police to temporarily close ECOMED Laboratory and issued a directive for its operations to cease. The committee emphasized the seriousness of the issue and made it clear that this action was being taken in accordance with parliamentary procedures.
