Immediate Past Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ghana, Professor Ernest Aryeetey, has charged African universities to expand their research work to help develop a vaccine for Covid-19.
The move he said, would be the greatest achievement for the Continent and enhance her socio-economic development. Prof Aryeetey made the call when he delivered the 2020 Vikings Celebrity Lecture at the University of Ghana, Legon.
The lecture, organised by the John Mensah Sarbah Hall Alumni of the University focused on “Managing an Africa Economy during a Pandemic.”
Prof Aryeetey said protecting the people from contracting the virus should be the topmost priority of the economic managers of the economy. He said the surge in the infection rate in Africa has crippled the economy and is having a toll on revenue generated from cocoa and other natural resources.
Prof Aryeetey commended African governments for measures taken to contain the pandemic such as the state of emergency, the lockdown directives, social distancing, closure of borders, ban on large gatherings, and closure of schools.
He applauded government for the interventions put in place to support the people including small and medium-term enterprises, tax waiving, free water and electricity, and tax holidays.
Director of the Ghana Law School Dr Kwasi Prempeh said the infection rate is rising and urged Ghanaians to wear their face masks while calling on the security agencies to deal with the recalcitrant ones.
