NEWS COMMENTARY ON THE GLOBAL THREAT OF CORONAVIRUS AND THE LOCKDOWN MEASURES.
The global threat posed by coronavirus began in December 2019 and is affecting socioeconomic lives of everyone in the world. The effects included a threat to life and survival of people in all parts of the world, a situation which has led to various forms of hopelessness and helplessness in various sections of the globe. In addition, the situation has also caused the near-collapse of businesses throughout the world. In light of these developments, there is the need for countries to take effective measures to stop the spread of the disease and its effects on society.
In Ghana, the President of the Republic, Nana Addo Danquah Akufo-Addo has instituted lockdown measures in parts of the country to help contain the disease. Here, lockdown means rigid and purposeful regulation of highly populated regions like the Greater Accra and the Greater Kumasi Metropolis. Under the measures, people are expected to stay home and observe safety measures to prevent the spread of the disease. Some inconvenience would be experienced but this is the price we all need to pay for our safety as was pointed out by President Akufo-Addo.
People’s concern about the lockdown has been how to get access to essential supplies such as water, food items, supply of basic things like electricity and liquified petroleum gas. However, the measures instituted made room for people to get access to these essential supplies. To this end, there is no need for anyone to panic over anything but to comport ourselves in a manner that we all need to bring in the maximum safety results for the country.
Complaining about the measures taken so far and disobeying them will only amount to undermining our own survival as a people. Whether we like it or not, the threat of the coronavirus to everyone in the world is real and we all need to agree to conform to the measures in order to preserve lives.
Also, this is the time to show real love for each other and not make things unnecessarily difficult by increasing prices of commodities. We cannot claim to be religious and exhibit love towards God when we have on the other hand decided to create shortages and make things extremely difficult for our brothers and sisters. The items to be purchased at reasonable prices include genuine alcohol-based sanitizers, nose masks, hand gloves, food and other essentials needed for the survival of everyone.
The demeanour of the President during the announcement of the two weeks lockdown depicts a worried leader who wanted the best for his country. Going forward as a nation, we need to pay attention to improving our social systems and structures and also improve the general conditions as well as observe social distance measures required for the protection of everyone.
The outbreak of the coronavirus and its threat to life and socioeconomic development in the world is a very unfortunate situation but it is a situation that can be overcome when all hands are placed on deck to support the President and his government for the good of all and at the same time ensure that our businesses and socioeconomic conditions are revived after this dreadful menace.
It is our collective responsibility to wage a relentless war against the coronavirus pandemic so as to restore us all back to our normal day to day activities. This is a winnable war. The lockdown is for the good of us all.
BY DR. KOFI AMPONSAH-BEDIAKO, DIRECTOR OF CORPORATE COMMUNICATIONS GHANA STANDARDS AUTHORITY