Parties express mixed reactions over the lifting of lockdown
The New Patriotic Party (NPP) has welcomed the government’s decision to lift the ban on the restriction of movements in parts of the country.
It, however, said Ghanaians must strictly adhere to the preventive and safety protocols in order not to contract the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) disease.
Speaking in an interview, the Director of Elections and Research, Mr Evans Nimako, said it was important that Ghanaians exercised restraint and rallied behind the government and health authorities to bring the pandemic under control.
“What is important is for us all to support the government to contain the pandemic. If we all join the fight to win the war against COVID-19, it is the country that wins and not any individual,” he said.
He, therefore, called on all stakeholders, including political parties to come on board and accept the challenge to defeat COVID-19, stressing “we have one Ghana and we cannot afford to lose focus”.
Political activities
Mr Nimako acknowledged the distortion of activities of political parties as a result of the imposition of the restriction of movement that banned all political and religious activities and social gatherings.
He, however, expressed the hope that when the ban was lifted, the parties would quickly go to the drawing board to outline new schedules.
“What is important is to support the government now to contain the pandemic. We believe the President is offering excellent leadership in dealing with it. He needs our support in this fight,” he stated.
PNC
The Chairman of the People’s National Convention (PNC), Mr Bernard Mornah, said it would ease the burden of hunger and bring great relief to many Ghanaians who were affected by the partial lockdown.
He explained that although the government had initiated programmes to attend to vulnerable people, many of them had not been reached.
He noted nonetheless that lifting the partial lockdown could also come with dire consequences for the country, as many people did not adhere to directives even during the period of restrictions.
Mr Mornah again wondered how, for instance, drivers were going to comply with the directive on the number of passengers they are to carry while ensuring social distancing now that there are no security checks in place.
He also called for accountability regarding freebies announced by the President such as tanker water supply to communities without water.
CPP
The acting Chairperson of the Convention People’s Party (CPP), Hajia Hamdatu Ibrahim, said the party believed the President had been well-informed by the various intelligence agencies on national life - social, cultural, economic, agriculture, security and health.
“The decision and advice given is, therefore, to be taken in the national interest. One key point to take from the President's address is the shared responsibility we individually have to take to make the fight against the pandemic, a success,” she stated.
She said the CPP would continue to encourage Ghanaians to adhere to the directives on maintaining hygienic standards, staying away from crowds, staying at home and ensuring good upkeep of the body systems.
“We really, really need to be extra, extra careful and most diligent in everything now with the lifting of the lockdown,” she said, adding that “this is most challenging times for all humankind.”
Hajia Ibrahim urged Ghanaians to stay safe and continue not only social distancing but more importantly, “physical distancing. Your destiny is in your hands.”
PPP
The General Secretary of the Progressive People’s Party (PPP), Mr Murtala Mohammed, said the party could not fault the government for its decision to lift the partial lockdown.
“Indeed, our social setting does not even allow for implementation of the lockdown. We cannot fault the government for its decision a day after the announcement.
“We need to give the decision taken by the President some time to see how it will affect the people either positively or negatively,” he added.
Mr Mohammed said the President and the government had all the information from the experts and the decision was taken based on the information at hand.
“But most importantly, people must adhere to the social distancing protocol, practice personal hygiene and report to the hospital as and when they show symptoms of COVID-19,” he added.
NDC
On its part, the National Democratic Congress, said the lifting of the restrictions were premature and dangerous and would most likely result in a significant escalation in the number of cases beyond the 1042, as stated by government.
“Our position is that the virus is not yet under adequate control in Ghana to merit any ease of restrictions on movement at this time. We are mindful of the fact that a backlog of tests from samples of about 10,000 took us from 600+ cases to 1000+ cases.
“With over 18,000+ samples yet to be tested, there is a higher probability that our cases may surge as we are yet to get to our peak. We believe these backlog samples are from primary or secondary contacts who have in turn made several contacts in the chain of human interactions and whose test results are yet to be ascertained,” it said in a statement signed by the chairman of the COVID-19 technical team, Mr Prosper Bani.
The statement said looking at the return to activities defying the basic social distancing protocols as recommended, “we put ourselves in a very precarious situation for a potential second wave of infections.“
Akufo-Addo’s lifting of restrictions on movement is politically motivated – Sammy Gyamfi
The Communications Director of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), Mr Sammy Gyamfi has described the decision by President Akufo-Addo to lift the lockdown on Accra, Tema, Kasoa and Kumasi despite the increase in coronavirus cases in Ghana is political.
He said the move aims at allowing the Electoral Commission (EC) compile a new voter’s register for the December poll.
“It is clearly politically- motivated decision, calculated to allow the EC the space to undertake its entranced and illogical determination to compile a new voter’s register for the 2020 General Elections and nothing more”, he stated President Akufo-Addo announced the lifting of the 3-week lockdown on the aforementioned cities with effect from Monday, April 20.
He made the announcement when he addressing the Nation on Sunday, April 19, 2020 on the latest development in the bid to curtail the spread of the COVID 19 in the county.
Reacting to the President’s announcement on his on Facebook wall, Mr Gyamfi said the president’s decision is to place political expediency ahead of Public safety.
He further questioned the basis for the lockdown in the first place, “Either than that, why will President Akufo-Addo impose a partial lockdown with the objective of halting the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic in the country, at a time we had only recorded 137 cases across just four (4) regions of the country and with 5 deaths, but turn around to lift the partial lockdown, at a time our positive case count has galloped to 1,042, across ten (10) regions and with nine (9) deaths?, ” he wrote in a statement on Facebook.
He added that countries with far lower cases have not lifted or relaxed their lockdown restrictions. “Yet, we who are currently the country with the highest COVID-19 cases in West Africa, have against expert advice, lifted our partial lockdown. Doesn’t this defy science and commonsense?
He stressed that the President’s decision is a reckless political gamble that portends great danger for this nation. “President Akufo-Addo’s decision to lift the lockdown at this crucial time, is a reckless political gamble that portends great danger for this nation. Ghanaians must never forgive him if this unimaginable decision exacerbates our COVID-19 situation. The blame for any fatality that is occasioned by this reckless decision must lie squarely with the President” he said.
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