Editorial : COVID-19 safety protocols thrown to the dogs?

As of yesterday, August 19, 2020, Ghana had recorded a total of 42,993 confirmed cases of the novel Coronavirus since March this year. Out of this number, 40,796 persons have recovered or been discharged.

But 248 persons have unfortunately succumbed to the virus, while 1,949 cases are active, with 16 in severe condition, six critically ill, and three on ventilators, the Ghana Health Service website published.

On a regional basis, the Greater Accra had 21,369; Ashanti – 10,650; Western – 2,924; Eastern – 2,109; Central – 1,829; Bono East – 730; Volta – 646; Western North – 598; Ahafo – 490; Northern – 489; Bono – 480; Upper East – 282; Oti – 229; Upper West – 88; Savannah – 62; North East R – 18.

Though there appears to be a nose dive in the active cases compared to what was witnessed in the early days of the virus in the country, we can’t say Uhuru yet, given that there is no cure or vaccine yet.

It is on the back of the above that The Chronicle is worried over the brashness of some Ghanaians, including the political parties, who have served most of the safety protocols of the virus on a royal plate to the dogs.

As though the reluctance of the citizens to adhere to, at least, the wearing of nose masks was not enough, the political parties have disregarded the social distancing protocol in grand style. This, the two major political parties – the ruling New Patriotic Party and opposition National Democratic Congress – have faltered on.

The development raises serious concerns, especially as leaders of these two parties, President Akufo-Addo and former President Mahama, who are to set examples for their followers, are the reason why the social distancing protocol is being breached.

Videos and pictures of the tours of separate regions by these two main contenders depict some Ghanaians have locked social distancing and thrown the keys to the dogs.

It would be hypocritical on the part of this paper to fault one of the two given that there have been instances where both could not contain the crowd.

However, to cite an example to buttress our point, readers should look for videos or pictures of President Akufo-Addo’s tour of the Western Region, former President Mahama’s tour of the Volta Region, and Prof Jane Naana Opoku-Agyeman’s tour of the Northern Region.

Where has the phrase, “leadership by example” gone to, that these leaders are doing the contrary, as far as the COVID-19 safety protocols are concerned?

More importantly, it is very hypocritical on the part of the leaders of political parties to blame the government for not ensuring that the citizens observed the protocols, and later be the reason that multitudes went to the mountain when they were not supposed to.

We, at The Chronicle, are very alarmed because, should there be a spike in the positive cases, it is going to have ripple effects on the generality of the population, especially those who dutifully followed the etiquettes.

We ask, could the political parties have the testicular fortitude to complain if, in the unfortunate event, there is an increase in the positive cases of the virus following their actions?

In the end, it is the ordinary Ghanaian, who, through no fault of theirs in this context the numbers increased, would be subjected to the crocodile tears the politicians may be shedding.

Is it not mind boggling for pastors to be arrested and fined because they discarded the safety protocols, but politicians are not even arrested, let alone be fined for being the conduit through which people breached the social distancing protocol?

Unless, of course, as George Orwell said in his Animal Farm book, “All Animals are equal, but some Animals are more equal than others,” is actually the order of the day.

We are not health experts, neither have we ever appeared more knowledgeable then the health professionals, a reason we whole heartedly obey their safety precautions, as though they were the new commandments from our Creator.

We, therefore, appeal to all the political parties, with much emphasis on the NPP and NDC, to do well to ensure people do not mass up in this era of the deadly plague.

The Chronicle would also want to advice our citizens to value their lives more than the pesewas politicians would give them in this election year.

Let us bear in mind that if we lose our lives to the virus, because we did not observe the safety precautions during political activities, it would be in vain.

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