• About
  • Contcat Us
  • Privacy Policy
Saturday, March 25, 2023
Primenews.com.gh
No Result
View All Result
  • HomePage
  • Ghana News
  • Politics
  • Entertainment
  • Sports
  • HomePage
  • Ghana News
  • Politics
  • Entertainment
  • Sports
No Result
View All Result
Primenews.com.gh Logo
No Result
View All Result
Home general news

Akufo-Addo took a pointless decision to lift partial lockdown – Adib Saani

by Mutala Yakubu
2020-04-20
in general news
President Akufo-Addo

President Akufo-Addo

69
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on TwitterShare on WhatsApp

Adib Saani a security analyst is not happy with President Akufo-Addo’s decision to lift the restriction of movement in Accra and Kumasi.

The two cities were under a partial lockdown for 3 weeks but in the President’s address to the nation on April 19, 2020, he lifted that restriction.

Mr Saani is of the view that this decision betrays his words concerning the fight against the novel coronavirus.

READ ALSO

King Charles’s France visit postponed after pension protests

Ramadan: Nigerians face arrest for ‘eating in public’

Portions of his statement read: “The President HE Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo won international admiration with his acclaimed statement, “we know what to do to bring our economy back to life. What we do not know how to do is to bring people back to life”.

However, the pointless decision to lift the lockdown in Accra, Kumasi and their environs betrays the President’s own words so far as combating the novel coronavirus is concerned.”

Ghana’s case count as of April 19, 2020, stood at 1,042 with 9 deaths and 99 recoveries.

Below is the full statement

PRESIDENT’S LIFTING OF LOCKDOWN A GAMBLE THAT COULD BACKFIRE

The President HE Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo won international admiration with his acclaimed statement, “we know what to do to bring our economy back to life. What we do not know how to do is to bring people back to life”.

However, the pointless decision to lift the lockdown in Accra, Kumasi and their environs betrays the President’s own words so far as combating the novel coronavirus is concerned.

All over the world, countries are extending lockdowns and even in some cases, making it stricter. The only situations where lockdowns have been eased or lifted is when the infection curve is flattened and backed by Science or empirical data.

In Ghana’s case, the curve seems to spiral upwards with no sign of flattening in the immediate future.

According to a new study by the Imperial College London COVID-19 Response Team, the purpose of a lockdown is to reduce reproduction – in other words, to reduce the number of people each confirmed case infects. The goal is to keep reproduction, or “R,” below one (R<1) – with each case infecting fewer than one other person, on average.

The authors of the study say there are two routes to try to get there; Mitigation, “slowing but not necessarily stopping the epidemic spread and Suppression, or basically, lockdown, which “aims to reverse epidemic growth, reducing case numbers to low levels” by social distancing the entire population “indefinitely” and closing schools and universities. The study’s models show that, painful as lockdown may be for many of us, it works.

ADVERTISEMENT

Without any lockdown or strict social distancing measures and enforcement, we can expect peak mortality in the future. As the World Health Organization (WHO) warned, Africa could become the next epicentre of the coronavirus outbreak. UN officials also say it is likely the pandemic will kill at least 300,000 people in Africa and push nearly 30 million into poverty.

It is worth noting that, almost all world leaders including US President Donald Trump and British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who ignored WHO warnings, are licking their wounds today. I am not sure we would want to get there. Besides, how effective would enforcing the social distancing protocols be?

I do appreciate the untold economic and social hardship this lockdown is posing to the ordinary Ghanaian. But we are in desperate times and desperate and sometimes draconian measures would have to be adopted for the greater good of public health and safety. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus previously warned that loosening restrictions ‘could lead to a deadly resurgence’ in coronavirus across the world.

As Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi put it, “if we see the nationwide lockdown purely from an economic perspective, then it will surely appear to be a costly decision. But the cost is of no comparison when compared to the importance of human life”.

Ghana does not have to wait for the situation to worsen. Rather we need to act more aggressively at the time our curve is not showing any sign of flattening and take steps to try and contain it.

In the end, it is a bitter pill to swallow so we get well.
Adib Saani

Security Analyst/Executive Director, Jatikay Centre for Human Security and Peace Building

Tags: News in Ghana
ShareTweetSend
Previous Post

We will be very active this week – Chair of COVID-19 Trust Fund

Next Post

Gov’t decision to lift lockdown lacks scientific basis – Sammy Gyamfi

Related Posts

King Charles’s France visit postponed after pension protests
general news

King Charles’s France visit postponed after pension protests

2023-03-25
The holy month of Ramadan for Muslims began on Thursday (file photo) In a statement on Thursday, the religious police force, known as Hisbah Board, warned that those who engage in societal vices during the sacred month will be punished, local media reported. “Some of the youths who eat in public during the fasting period will not be spared either,” the commander-general of the board, Harun Ibn-Sina, was quoted as saying. Mr Ibn-Sina said the board has deployed officers to mosques to ensure the safety during the fasting period which started on Thursday. Hisbah Board enforces Islamic law in Kano, a largely Muslim state.
general news

Ramadan: Nigerians face arrest for ‘eating in public’

2023-03-25
Paul Rusesabagina photographed in court in February 2021
general news

Paul Rusesabagina: Hotel Rwanda hero set free

2023-03-25
Fate of Akufo-Addo’s new ministers to be decided today
general news

Fate of Akufo-Addo’s new ministers to be decided today

2023-03-24
Asafoatse Djanban IV inducted into Prampram Traditional Council
general news

Asafoatse Djanban IV inducted into Prampram Traditional Council

2023-03-23
New Gonja king enskinned
general news

New Gonja king enskinned

2023-03-20
Next Post
Sammy_Gyamfi

Gov't decision to lift lockdown lacks scientific basis - Sammy Gyamfi

Gabby backs Akufo-Addo’s decision to lift lockdown

Gabby backs Akufo-Addo's decision to lift lockdown

ADVERTISEMENT

TRENDING NEWS IN GHANA

MUSIGA to hold elections on August 8

MUSIGA to hold elections on August 8

2023-03-25
King Charles’s France visit postponed after pension protests

King Charles’s France visit postponed after pension protests

2023-03-25
Kotoku Royals beat King Faisal in six-goal thriller

Kotoku Royals beat King Faisal in six-goal thriller

2023-03-25
Karela United battle Hearts of Oak at Aiyinase

Karela United battle Hearts of Oak at Aiyinase

2023-03-25
Video: Fatawu Issahaku scores from inside his own half as Black Meteors draw with Algeria

Video: Fatawu Issahaku scores from inside his own half as Black Meteors draw with Algeria

2023-03-25
We’re grateful – NPP to ‘brave’ NDC MPs who put Ghana first

We’re grateful – NPP to ‘brave’ NDC MPs who put Ghana first

2023-03-25
Parliament approves Justices Gaewu, George Koomson for Supreme Court

Parliament approves Justices Gaewu, George Koomson for Supreme Court

2023-03-25
The holy month of Ramadan for Muslims began on Thursday (file photo) In a statement on Thursday, the religious police force, known as Hisbah Board, warned that those who engage in societal vices during the sacred month will be punished, local media reported. “Some of the youths who eat in public during the fasting period will not be spared either,” the commander-general of the board, Harun Ibn-Sina, was quoted as saying. Mr Ibn-Sina said the board has deployed officers to mosques to ensure the safety during the fasting period which started on Thursday. Hisbah Board enforces Islamic law in Kano, a largely Muslim state.

Ramadan: Nigerians face arrest for ‘eating in public’

2023-03-25
Paul Rusesabagina photographed in court in February 2021

Paul Rusesabagina: Hotel Rwanda hero set free

2023-03-25
Kylian Mbappe has been named France captain following the international retirement of Hugo Lloris

Mbappe scores twice as France thrash Netherlands

2023-03-25
ADVERTISEMENT

Must Reads

Parliament approves Justices Gaewu, George Koomson for Supreme Court

Ramadan: Nigerians face arrest for ‘eating in public’

Paul Rusesabagina: Hotel Rwanda hero set free

Mbappe scores twice as France thrash Netherlands

All 6 of Akufo-Addo’s ministerial nominees approved by Parliament

Chaos in Parliament as Bagbin suspends sitting over approval of Ministers

About

A Prime Network Limited Website.

Follow us

No Result
View All Result
  • HomePage
  • Ghana News
  • Politics
  • Entertainment
  • Sports

©2015 - 2020 Primenews.com.gh

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Create New Account!

Fill the forms bellow to register

All fields are required. Log In

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In

Add New Playlist

This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this website you are giving consent to cookies being used. Visit our Privacy and Cookie Policy.