I keep hearing the above statement every now and then relative to the coronavirus situation in Ghana and I wonder what the proponents really mean.
Yes, we have a crises on our hands to manage and we have to remain united to do this and overcome. However, President Akufo-Addo and his 125 ministers and numerous special advisors are in charge. All decisions and choices being made regarding the COVID-19 situation are political.
The World Health Organization warned early January this year that COVID-19 was a Public Health Emergency of International Concern and advised countries to put in place measures to prevent the importation and containment of the virus. Decisions regarding prevention of importation and containment of the virus are political. Ghana government’s late decision to close our borders leading to the entry of 192 persons with the virus is political. President Akufo-Addo’s choice to embark on a 5 nation tour in the midst of a global pandemic and eventually importing the virus is political.
The decision to provide resources to frontline health workers in a timely manner to protect them in the fight against the virus are political. Decision to provide isolation centres and provide other facilities to fight the virus is political.
Again, the late decision to embark on contact tracing is political. The provision of testing kits to fast track testing to gain control over the situation is political. The decision to pass the Imposition of Restriction Act and subsequent Executive Instruments leading to the imposition of a lockdown is political.
The failure on the part of government to provide adequate facilities for testing but rather extend the lockdown and spend money feeding people and depleting our Stabilization Fund by providing utility subsidies and stimulus packages are also political.
Political Parties in opposition and citizens have the duty to hold government accountable to their actions and inactions. The fact that we are in crises doesn’t extinguish our right to hold government to account. It is good that opposition parties, the private sector and other well-meaning Ghanaians are doing well in the fight by providing support to health workers, security agencies and the vulnerable.
Citizens still have the duty to question government’s actions and inactions that led to the importation of the virus and how they are incompetently managing its aftermath so those who say the COVID-19 issue should not be politicized should come again! Accountability is part of our democratic culture because crises times are the fertile grounds for the abuse of power and resources. While we stay safe and stay home, we must be vigilant.
Dr. Jones Appiah
Private Medical Practitioner