The President of the of the Institute for Security, Disaster and Emergency Studies, Dr Ishmael Norman, says President Akufo-Addo has prepared the grounds for a stringent lock down.
Analysing President Akufo Addo’s address, Dr Norman noted that it was an excellent one with far reaching measures so far, adding that more remains to be done.
“It was an ominous speech, but we should not gush over the speech now at all,” he stressed, adding: “Technically, the President was preparing the ground for a longer, more stringent lock down.”
When addressing the nation, President Akufo Addo categorically stated: “We are, thus, about to enter a critical phase of our fight in the coming week.”
The Ghana Health Service, the President said, was due to receive the results of 15,384 out of 19,276 persons who have been reached through contact tracing.
“It is the results of these tests that will determine our future course of action. Government’s policy and measures will continue to be driven by the science in this matter,” the President said.
Subjecting the speech to constructive and critical analysis, Dr Norman, who is a researcher and scientist in such matters, warned that any disturbing result from the above tests could lead to a total lock down.
“More cases will emerge to necessitate a total lockdown. That is why he said health workers will receive half pay top up till May. This is how I analysed his speech,” said Dr Norman.
He added; ‘My analysis is informed by science, peer review literature and personal research. So I certainly have to read deep into the speech.”
He queried: “Why would the President offer additional payment to health workers till May if the numbers will go down, say, next week?”
Last week, President Akufo-Addo announced the imposition of strict restrictions on movement which affected residents of the Greater Accra Metropolitan Area.
Kasoa in the Central Region and Kumasi Metropolis and its contiguous districts are the other areas where the movement of residents was restricted by the President’s order.
The imposition of the two weeks’ restriction was meant to allow the state the needed space to adequately fight the Coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic.
Though the restriction order has not ended, speculations are rife that the President would extend the order as more and more people are testing positive for the deadly virus.
The post Akufo Addo prepares grounds for stringent lock down: Dr Norman appeared first on The Chronicle Online.
Read Full Story
Facebook
Twitter
Pinterest
Instagram
Google+
YouTube
LinkedIn
RSS