President Nana Akufo-Addo
President Nana Akufo-Addo has asked Ghanaians to intensify their adherence to the preventive measures put in place by the government to stop the spread of Coronavirus (Covid-19).
The president, while acknowledging the considerable difficulties the adherence to enhanced hygiene and social distancing protocols, the ban on public gatherings, and the closure of schools and borders may be for Ghanaians, noted that “we have no option but to stay the course.”
In his 9th Covid-19 address, Mr. Akufo-Addo said, “I know the difficulties each and every one of you has been through over the last two months.
“You have had to alter completely your way of life; you have had to stay at home, except for specified purposes; you cannot travel outside the country; you cannot go to Church, and you had to cancel activities usually associated with Easter; in this Holy Month of Ramadan, our Muslim brothers and sisters are having to pray at home, instead of congregating at the Mosque, and foregoing the public celebration of the Eid.”
“Parents are having to bear the extra burden of providing care for their children who, instead of being in school, are currently at home; operators of trotros, taxis, buses, markets, hotels, restaurants, bars and nightclubs have lost the patronage of their clients, and, as a result, lost much needed incomes; significant numbers of people have, unfortunately, lost their jobs because of the impact of the virus on our economy; most of us want to hang out with our families, friends and loved ones in a social setting, but cannot.”
He, however, noted that Ghanaians can only guarantee the safety of each other if they continue to adhere to the measures.
He said obeying the measures would not only be of benefit to individuals, but to health workers who continue to be at the forefront of caring for those affected by the virus, and caring for the sick in general.
“As I have said before, these restrictions cannot and will not be a permanent feature of our lives, and, shortly, I hope to announce the steps for, systematically, easing the restrictive measures to bring us back to normality.
Each one of us, however, can help to speed up this process if we continue to practice the measures of social distancing, washing our hands with soap under running water, refraining from shaking hands, and, wearing our masks whenever we leave our homes.
These measures must be respected by all,” he added.
President Akufo-Addo nonetheless urged the police to continue in its enforcement of the preventive measures including the arrest and prosecution of persons, irrespective of their status in society, who flout the regulations.
“We cannot allow a few persons, for their narrow, selfish interests, to jeopardise the health, well-being and safety of the larger population.
“If you fall foul of the law, you will face its full rigours,” he stated.
By Jamila Akweley Okertchiri