Seasoned journalist, Kwesi Pratt has called on government to, as a matter of urgency, restrict the movement of Ghanaians in order to curb the COVID-19.
Speaking on 'Kokrokoo' on Peace FM, Kwesi Pratt wondered why the government is not taking strict measures to ensure a reduction in the infection rate of the virus.
Ghana’s COVID-19 case count has risen to 23, 834 with 19,212 recoveries and 135 deaths.
Mr. Pratt was disgusted over the current number of cases trickling in and the fact that the disease is affecting governmment appointees and other leaders of the country.
He made reference to the Member of Parliament for Okere constituency, Dan Botwe who was recently discharged from the University of Ghana Medical Centre (UGMC) after reportedly contracting the disease.
Mr. Dan Botwe was admitted in the Medical Centre with pneumonia-like symptoms and subsequently tested positive for the virus.
Narrating his ordeal to Kwami Sefa Kayi in an interview on Peace FM's morning show 'Kokrokoo', he said; "I didn't suspect it was COVID . . . when I was going to UGMC I didn't know I had COVID. To the best of my knowledge I followed all the COVID protocols but the fact that it could happen, we should continue to be extra careful . . . the precautions we took and this happened; it's surprising," he intimated.
He urged Ghanaians to take the disease seriously saying ''if I have been infected after all the precautions I took; we cannot be careful enough. The virus is not for high profile people and we need to get rid of such misconceptions''.
Education Minister, Matthew Opoku Prempeh popularly called Napo, also contracted the disease and has recovered.
Due to the spike in the virus infections in the country, several State agencies and companies like BOST, COCOBOD, Ghana Standard Authority and Finance Ministry among others have shut down operations as a result of the pandemic.
Speaking on the same programme, Kwesi Pratt asked the government to ''spare us (Ghanaians) the protocols. Of course, it helps; when you wear the mask, it really helps. I am wearing the mask as I am talking...but it is not something to fight against the disease for it to be over. The only way out is limiting human mobility''.
''Who washes his hand than Dan Botwe like he earlier explained? Who uses hand sanitizer than Dan Botwe and so on? But he has the disease. The Ministry of Health who brought the protocols, can somebody tell the Minister doesn't follow the protocols? I admit the Minister strictly adheres to the protocols but he has been infected. The health Professionals at Korle Bu Teaching Hospital who understand the disease more than me and you have the disease. Do you think those experts at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital don't obey the protocols?'' he questioned.
''We don't have vaccine nor a cure. The disease also doesn't have legs to walk. It is when people walk that it moves. So, the only way to curb the disease is to limit the mobility of human beings . . . The evidence is that you can observe all the protocols but will still contract the disease,” he added.
Watch Kwesi Pratt below:
Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana
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It is true, let the government limit movement. ECG and Ghana water staff stay at home, all Ministries closed plus the markets shut. I hope then it will make Mr. Pratt very happy when there are no lights and water and no one is paid their salaries and there is no food to buy. Very easy to say when you are on the other side. Myopic thinking !!!!!
You are very right about Kwesi Pratt. If he believes in what he is talking about, is he waiting for the government to tell he Kwesi Pratt to stay at home before he does so? Why does he leave home and drive all the way to the radio station if he knows that the protocols alone are not enough, and that people have to stay put? Who does he expect to stay home then? All he does is only sit down and talk and talk, and put blames on everyone else besides himself.
PLEASE KWASI PRATT TO AVOID MOBILITY, BETTER STAY IN YOUR ROOM FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIFETIME TO AVOID THE SPREAD OF COVID 19
Don't worry Uncle Kwesi, after the students and EC finish their task there would be total lockdown till there is a vaccine for COVID 19.
Stomach journalist. Kwesi Pratt wants to sell Ghana to the dogs. He does not make sense anymore. I think he is going senile
You leave your house, drive to a radio station for a talk show which could have been done online with you linking-up from home and you ***barred word*** that we should stop the protocols and limit human mobility. Why don't you set the example first and then when you make the call it will hold more weight. The problem we are facing now as far as this pandemic is concerned is that everyone seem to know what the right thing is to be done but no one is willing to do the right thing. And we cannot blame government for it. Even during the lockdown people refused to stay home and when the police try to insist the same people calling to the imposition of the lockdown were complaining. If people are willing to do what is right there is nothing any government on earth can do. If Kwesi Pratt thinks his kokrokoo attendance is so important that he cannot stay at home to join in then how would he expect anyone to stay home or be forced to stay home by the government. At this stage I would have expected the journalist and the media in general to show the way by example rather than just talking and blaming everyone else apart from themselves.