President Akufo-Addo has, once again, poured out his frustration at the way Ghanaians are disregarding the Coronavirus (COVID-19) protocols. Addressing the nation on Sunday night, the President said the disease, which was almost brought under control when it emerged in March last year, has started surging once again, because people are simply refusing to observe the protocols.
He warned Ghanaians not to compel to him to introduce the lockdown policy, but rather help to fight the disease, which is wreaking havoc in the world.
The Chronicle perfectly understands the frustration of the President, because Covid-19 is a deadly disease and should it start killing people, as is currently happening in Europe and America, it is he (President) who would be blamed.
The reckless manner in which some of the people are conducting themselves would be relegated to the ground, because it is easier to blame the President.
When the disease was at its peak in April and May last year, Ghanaians were wearing face masks and regularly sanitising their hands. Unfortunately, this is no more happening because of the wrong perception that there is nothing called Covid-19. Even in our trotros where the disease can easily spread, passengers do not care a hoot at wearing the face masks, even though there is talking and shouting going on in these cars.
The situation is even worst in our market places, where people congregate to conduct their daily businesses without wearing the nose masks. It is on the basis of this that some parents are afraid to allow their kids to go back to school, because the recklessness of one parent, who passes on the disease to his or her children, can lead to innocent people contracting it.
As we put this piece together, there are reports that because of the devastating effect of the disease, as many as 126 private schools in the country have closed down, with Greater Accra alone leading the pack with 16 schools.
This means hundreds of Ghanaians, if not thousands, have lost their sources of income. This is a serious issue, yet we have people who are sitting in trotros and other public places joking that there is nothing called Covid-19, with others also buying into this irresponsible thought.
The Chronicle, therefore, supports the call by President Akufo-Addo that the Covid-19 laws should rigorously be enforced, especially in trotros, buses and public places. Those who disobey must be arrested and prosecuted to serve as a deterrent to others. The police, in our view, should also sensitise the public to report anyone who goes round polluting the minds of Ghanaians that the disease does not exist.
Such people, we must say, are nation wreckers who must be dealt with according to the dictates of our laws. There are people who are so gullible that they accept such false claims without knowing its implications on their lives.
The Chronicle also advises the government to set up a special taskforce that would go round to inspect schools – both public and private – to ascertain whether they are observing the protocols or not.
Ideally, the government should be testing the pupils at regular intervals to know their Covid-19 status. Unfortunately, Ghana, as a developing country, does not have the resources to implement such a major decision. In fact, any attempt to do so can crash our economy.
Therefore, the best thing to do in such a situation is constant monitoring of the protocols, because as the adage goes – prevention is better than cure.
The Chronicle, nevertheless, advises parents with the financial wherewithal to keep on testing their wards to stop the disease from wreaking havoc, as is happening in the advanced countries at the moment.
As President Akufo-Addo has always been saying – the Battle is the Lord’s – but, again, we should take note that God helps those who help themselves. We must practice the observance of the protocols and leave the rest in the hands of God.
The post Editorial: Covid-19 must be fought with vigour appeared first on The Chronicle Online.
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