When Ghanaians chose the then presidential candidate of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, in election 2016, little, perhaps did they know that they had, indeed, chosen a gem of a politician, who was capable of pulling Mother Ghana from the quicksand of economic stagnation and meeting other emergency situations.
Today, events taking place in his administration have proved that the electorate made a wise choice. Ghana, indeed, would have missed the genuine services of a political gem.
Just within the first half of his reign, Ghana has seen unprecedented development projects, interspersed with numerous human-centred initiatives.
What readily comes to mind are the Free Senior High School (SHS) policy, One District One factory (1D1F), One Village, One Dam (1V1D), Planting for Food and Jobs (PFJ), restoration of all allowances of trainee teachers and nurses, Nation Builders Corps (NABCO), etc.
Now a situation has currently arisen, which, from the beginning, posed a formidable challenge to President Akufo-Addo. He has, however, expectedly proved equal to the task.
Of course, I am referring to the deadly Coronavirus (COVID-19), which is uncompromisingly, mowing down precious lives like grass all over the globe. Just like the tenacity of purpose with which President Akufo-Addo tackled the hydra-headed economic problems of the country on assumption of power, he has, within a short time, put in place, in rapid succession, some measures to arrest the spread of the pandemic.
Some of these measures are the closure of the land, sea and air borders, travellers arriving in the country are quarantined immediately, while the passing of the Emergency Restriction Bill has banned churches from holding their usual services, especially on Sundays; social gatherings in all their forms have also been banned.
Other preventive measures have also been put in place to educate people to wash their hands frequently, cover their mouths when coughing or sneezing; reduction in human contact, fumigation of all markets and schools in Ghana, etc.
When it became necessary to resort to a lockdown of some major communities in the country, such as Accra and Kumasi and Kasoa, our general dutifully responded to well-intended calls on him to do so.
Notably among the advocates of a lockdown of Ghana were the Ghana Medical Association (GMA) and the Trades Union Congress (TUC). Even though, the former’s argument in favour of a total lockdown of Ghana was cogent, because “the lockdown is a proven option backed by science and along with other measures, will ultimately be in our best interest,” our general also considered the social challenges to be faced by Ghanaians and resorted to a lockdown, which was lifted after three weeks duration.
Our general embarked on a massive programme of feeding the poor, and supplying some vulnerable areas with free electricity and water. Frontline health workers were adequately catered for when personal protection equipment (PPE) were supplied.
Our able general has guided and guarded us thus far. The ball is now in our courts. We must, at all costs, adhere to the numerous measures put in place to halt the spread of this dangerous virus, especially, the wearing of the face and nose masks, hand washing, social distancing, covering the mouths when coughing and sneezing, using hand sanitisers, etc.
Writing about COVID-19 without mentioning the high sense of unity in diversity exhibited by Ghanaians will be an exercise in futility. Virtually, an endless flow of donations, both in cash and medical supplies, items of food, etc, is highly appreciated. Foreign donors should also be acknowledged.
It is now well established that man fears death like how a child dreads the mere mention of kaka, an imaginary monster. Why then do we toy with the agents of death such as poor environmental and personal hygiene, drug abuse, alcoholism, over indulgence in sexual escapades, foolhardy ventures such as coup d’état, etc.
Well, the existence of this wicked virus is REAL. Let us not lower our guards, but join hands with our able general to tell the virus, “Aputoo”, after all, you are NOTHING, but a coward!
Author GODFRIED K. ARHIN-KUMI
The views expressed in this article are the Author’s own and do not necessarily reflect The Chronicle’s editorial stance
The post PERISCOPE: Advocate against cheating and of peaceful co-existence Akufo-Addo, an able General appeared first on The Chronicle Online.
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