The Executive Director, Alliance for Social Equity and Public Accountability (ASEPA) Mensah Thompson, has said that we were not prepared in the fight against covid19 and we have no excuse.
Mensah in an interview with Ahotor 92.3 fm added that, ‘as a country we have to be open about the disease to avoid stigmatization, the Norwegian who tested positive was identified but that of the second person till date is not known’.
There was no case on covid-19 in the country until the President embarked on a trip to Norway and we had our first two cases on covid-19.
In a statement , “The Embassy of Norway can confirm that one of our colleagues has tested positive for the covid-19 virus. The person is in quarantine and the Embassy is in close dialogue with Ghana health service. Routine contact tracing has commenced and we are fully committed to assist with containment”
“The Embassy is closed to the public until further notice, but staff are operating from home. We are thankful for the care and assistance offered by Ghana’s health authorities and WHO Ghana ,and also for the compassion showed. We urge everybody to follow the preventive measures issued by WHO and Ghanaian authorities.” The statement added
He added that China as a province was not open in providing information, as at the time World Health Organisation got the alert on the outbreak of the disease it was late and fast spreading as China is a country with lot of emigrants.
Mensah in an interview on Ahotor 92.3 fm added that we cannot use the unpreparedness as an excuse, churches were closed to the congregation but open for the registration of National Identification card in the Eastern region by National Identification Authority (NIA), our borders were not closed on time.
Adding that, when the President was asked to bring back Ghanaian students in China, he refused claiming they will infect us with the virus yet he went on a trip to Norway with his ministers as at the time World Health Organisation (WHO) has declared it a global pandemic.
He further said the government has no plan even before the lockdown because there was no pre lockdown rather a post lockdown. “Now the security is protecting the law breakers inspite of the president directive on social gathering and mandatory wearing of nose mask ” he said this in response to the enstoolment of the Okuapemhene .
He chided the President’s trip to Norway as not necessary as he didn’t bring anything important to the country rather the disease.
Felicia Naa Awuley/ Ahotornews
