The President of Ghana, Nana Akufo-Addo yesterday lifted the partial lockdown placed on selected areas in the country 3 weeks ago to help fight the spread of COVID-19.
READ MORE: A careful balance of factors led to lifting of lockdown – President Akufo-Addo
But a lot of questions have been raised regrading reasons behind the President’s decision, when recorded cases of the virus in the country has gone up exponentially compared to 3 weeks prior to the lockdown.
According to the National Communications Officer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Samuel Gyamfi, “The President lifting the partial lockdown is the most reckless and irresponsible decision ever to be taken by a politician in the histroy of Ghana”.
He made this statement on Happy98.9FM’s ‘Epa Hoa Daben’ with Doctar Cann.
On his authority, the President’s decision will only lead to the futher spread of the virus and cause more deaths just like it has happened in other countries.
Sammy Gyamfi borrowing the words of the President said, the justification for the lockdown was to “stop and halt the spread of COVID-19 but has that happened?” he asked.
Comparing statistics prior to the lockdown, Sammy Gyamfi pointed out that there were 137 cases with 4 deaths across 4 regions prior to the lockdown. But during and after the lockdown, the country has recorded 1,042 cases spread across 10 regions with 9 deaths. “Which is over
a 900% increament in the positive cases. This points to the fact that the President’s decision was not based on science, data or any sound reasoning”, he stated.
Sammy Gyamfi proceeded to accuse the President of trying to achieve cheap political points by lifting the lockdown and having no regard for the lives of Ghanaians.
“The President did it solely because of elections.
The lockdown was lifted to allow the EC compile the new voters register and also for the National Patroitic Party (NPP) to hold their primaries”, he said.
READ MORE: Decision to lift lockdown premature and politically-motivated – Sammy Gyamfi
The World Health Organization (W.H.O.) has recommended lockdowns in countries recording cases of COVID-19.
Not withstanding, the world health body has also outlined some criteria for removing a lockdown which include;
1.Disease tranmission must be under control.
- The health systems are able to detect, treat, isolate and trace every contact.
- Communities are fully educated,engaged and empowered to live under a new normal.
The question then arises if it was really appropriate for the President to have lifted the partial lockdown yesterday.
By: Joel Sanco