Ghana COVID-19: Partial Lockdown may worsen Ghana’s COVID-19 spread – CCAG

Statement

Ghana COVID-19: Partial Lockdown may worsen Ghana’s COVID-19 spread

Sun. 29th Mar. 2020

Citizens for Change and Accountable Governance (CCAG) and United Press for Development Network (UPDN) is by this joint Press Statement commending His Excellency Nana Addo Danquah Akufo-Addo (President of the Republic of Ghana) led government for the bold and decisive measures taken in the wake of the deadly Novel Corona virus.

Our love and appreciation goes to the Ministry of Health, Ministry of Information, Ghana Health Service, Noguchi Memorial Research Institute, Kumasi Center for Commemorative Research (KCCR), all Health Facilities, Research and Testing Centers and Front liners for their dedicated and sacrificial work.

Again, we commend Government for freeing or giving amnesty to over eight hundred (800) inmates.

The insurance benefit and allowance for front line workers as announced by the Health Minister, Kwaku Agyeman Manu on Sunday 29th March, 2020 at the Ministry of Information COVID-19 briefing is a valuable and spirited addition.

Haven’t said that, CCAG/UPDN believes Ghana is gradually missing an opportunity to protect its citizens from the war against Corona virus. We have observed that President Akufo-Addo in his newest state address on Friday 27th March, 2020 locked down (restricted movement) parts of the Republic but gave some 48hour window.

This move has resulted in a massive panic buying and traveling across the length and breadth of the country.

Fellow Ghanaians, we pray it is otherwise but the truth is, the virus is not waiting for anyone and by our estimation it is (the virus) overwhelmingly among citizens considering the map of the GHS, MoH and MoI contact tracing and if further stringent and rigorous measures are not taking ON TIME, Ghana is on the verge of becoming Africa’s Italy in this COVID-19 battle.

This weekend (especially Saturday) our field observers reported a massive turn-up and overcrowding at various market places including Madina, Agormanya, Kejetia, Accra Centrals and this is enough to underscore that, COVID-19 is in all the 16 regions of Ghana and with time it will manifest.

CCAG/UPDN was not only campaigning, advocating and anticipating a total nationwide lockdown but that which takes effect immediately after the address.
Though we are quite disappointed but we appreciate the measures so far.

Kofi Asante Mensah
President/Executive Director
UPDN/CCAG
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0302965325