President Akufo-Addo says government is not considering a lockdown currently because of the implications it will have on many people.
According to him, although the country is recording more coronavirus cases, government is still monitoring the situation and will implement decisions that are in the best interest of all.
“Now people are talking about a lockdown in Ghana and this and that but we should know that the majority of people will be affected. The ordinary Ghanaians are the ones that will be most affected and it is important for us who have to take this decision to take into account, their circumstances and conditions.
“If you lockdown Accra, what are the consequences? If we lockdown the country, what are the consequences? A responsible government is required to look at all this before decisions are made and that is the exercise on which we are currently engaged.
“I am hopeful that sooner than later, we will come to an agreement within government on the way forward and the Ghanaian people will be informed. But I want to assure you that the matters you have put on the table are matters we are actively deliberating on,” President Akufo-Addo said.
Addressing leaders of the Trades Union Congress (TUC) led by General Secretary Dr. Yaw Baah at the Jubilee House, President Akufo-Addo said he was optimistic current measures put in place by government will help curb further spread of the virus.
“I have indicated to the country that the main objectives of our policies and responses which includes limiting importation. We are trying to take control of the spread of the virus by making provision to strengthen our capacity to care for those who are sick, limiting as much as possible the impact on our social and economic lives and then also, trying to find a way to use this crisis as an opportunity to strengthen our nation.
“We have seen how dependent we are on foreign import for our medicines and that shouldn’t be the case. But now we are finding the capacity to produce things for ourselves,” he concluded.
Since Ghana recorded 68 Covid-19 cases, there has been pressure on government to announce a lockdown with immediate effect.
The Ghana Medical Association and the Trade Union Congress say such a directive will help contain the spread of the virus and prevent fear and panic.
This has led to a heated debate on social media, with another school of thought arguing that a lockdown will kill more people than the virus since appropriate measures and structures have not been put in place.
But with the country recording 132 cases, the Trade Union Congress is still urging President Akufo-Addo to consider a more aggressive approach to the fight against the coronavirus.
Source: Myjoyonline
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Mr.President, consider the discussions and aspirations of "lock down" to save the COVID 19 spreading like a ***barred word*** fire during the harmattan season. History has taught ghanaians many lessons and experinces. The 1979 revolution brought about the curfew period as well as the 31 December 1981 revolution. There is no much difference between lock down and imposing curfew for Ghanaians. The two concept: "Curfew and lock down" are in effect the same traget. The 1979 and 31 December 1981 curfew was for clean up exercise and for peace in the country at that time. "Lock down is for health cleaning and discipline to prevent the COVID 19 spreading fast in Ghana. Ghanaians are used to curfews and it has helped us before and I beleive the Lock down of the country will not be strange to Ghanaians.We shall cope with the situation as we coped with it during the curfews season 1979
Some reflections: Let us consider the concept "Lock Down" Can any person translate "Lock Down" in any of the ghanaian languages? Or go to the streets of Accra, Kumasi, Cape Coast, Takoradi, Axim, Tamale or Bolgatanga and ask the people on the streets to translate "Lock Down" in their native langauge. In Akan laungauge ( Fante or Twi ) which I am familiar, "Lock down" means "Yeretum or Tum". Already the president of the republic of Ghana had considered certain sector of the country to be locked down. Such areas are, eucation sector, social sector eg. baning of social activities, funerals, operation of beer bars, church and mosque activities, transport sector, air lines have been restricted to fly to the country. The lock down" of the country will defenitely affect the daily life activities of Ghanaians, some areas like health sector, agricultural and fishing, internal transtport, markets and shoppings. This areas are untouchable!!! Is it possible to lock down the health sector? The president of the republic had really considered the consequences of the total "lock down" in Ghana. One of the consequence of the COVID 19 is the global pandemic, including ghana. Theres is a saying in Fante: Your house is already in fire and you want to use petrol to quench it down. Its impossible. I believe that, the "lock down" of the nation will bring not only fear but also chaos and depression for ghanaians. In 1979 uprising there was no lock down but there was "curfew" from 6pm to 6am, which brought nothing but hardship and suffering for ghanaians. Lock down and imposing curfew are the same coin with two faces. At this stage of global fight aginst the COVID 19, ghanaians must be cooperative with the outlines from the COVID 19 group created by the government. Ghanaians are much religious, we are crying to God in this period of global sickness, and I believe God will hear our cry. God will heal the nation and the global world for us. Thank You.
Mr President you managed to get 8 million USD to print new notes. Please use the same channel to get money for the vulnerable after the lock down.
GMA cannot ask the government to reduce their salaries as GMA is not the one who decides the salaries of the president and his ministers. If a patient is admitted, a doctor must attend to the patient and examine the patient. So they and the nurses are the front-line workers facing the actual danger everyday, not politicians. So doctors and nurses are in the best position to tell whether what they are seeing can be handled or not. From the first 2 cases we are now seeing 132 confirmed cases and 3 deaths! Everybody can clearly see where this is going and we already know the attitude of public health care workers in this country. Very soon they will start abandoning patients who are sick with covid-19 because they are overwhelmed! Even people with better health care systems are overwhelmed and that is why so many people are dying in countries like Italy, Spain, etc! When that happens all GMA will say is that we warned you but you did not listen! A stitch in time, they say, saves nine.
I agree 99% with the government. This condition as I can see, is been contained and well managed. I also think it's also testing our health system how effective it is. Economy like Ghana can't just wake up on a day and shut it self just like that. I wonder why GMA is making so much noise on locking the country down. Have they weighed the implications both socially, economically and politically. Aren't there anything that we as a nation can't do to tackle the issue at hand. They should rather tell the government to REDUCE THEIR SALARIES SO THAT ENOUGH MEDICAL EQUIPMENTS CAN BE BOUGHT. I WAS EXPECTING THE NURSES (GRNMA) TO CRY OUT LOUD, NOT YOU DOCTORS (GMA)
@Aban, Look at this reference "his stuuupid leather bag". Is this an insult or not?
Sit in Ghana there and be deceiving people America is sending everyone $1,200 a month. Where did you hear or read about this? If you want to put something out there be sure you understand the details before writing rubbish. Is not everyone who will benefit from that money and it's not monthly payment like you said in your comment. As we speak, Trump is even considering ordering people to go back to work to avoid paying the money he promise. If the numbers keep increasing in Ghana, your government will turn around and implement this lockdown idea and the question is, all the issues that the president raised in his address will they be resolved should he renege on his decision not to lockdown.
@ Don Biko I support your idea 100%. Our leaders has failed us big time. Its so shameful as a nation to be always borrowing from others meanwhile God has blessed us with natural resources that can cure our poverty and unemployment sickness but look at us. I think the government must come out with a better plans as soon as possible because day in and day out the Virus case keeps on increasing and is putting fear and panic in the citizens. For me i suggest a partial lock down if not full,in some congested areas as Lorry stations, Mall/Markets & Supermarkets etc. to reduce the spread of the disease.
THIS ONE MR PRESIDENT YOU HAVE FAILED BECAUSE THE PEOPLE TAKING CARE OF THE AFFECTED PATIENTS ARE ASKING YOU TO FOR LOCK DOWN NOW THEY WILL NEGLECT THE PATIENTS AND THE DEAD RATE WILL START TO INCREASE BECAUSE THEY TOO WILL PROTECT THEM SELVES A STITCH IN TIME SAVE NINE WE WILL NEVER FORGIVE YOU
@kojo ebe you wey your moda not bring up properly because you were brought up not to face the truth! Is Ken Ofori Atta not going to borrow from IMF? Is he not carrying a leather bag? Is he not always wearing sunday-wear(white-white)? So what has @Don Biko said wrong that you are insulting him by saying he was not properly brought up? Do you know him? To herl with this Ghanaian attitude of yes sir massa to their oppressors. That is why it was easy to colonize blacks. U r the man @Don Biko. Our elected officers are arrsholes! tieves!