President Akufo-Addo has dismissed claims that getting vaccinated can influence an individual’s political preference.
Addressing the nation on Wednesday, the President indicated that it is not true that taking the COVID-19 vaccines can compel a person to vote for the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the 2024 general election.
According to him, such concerns are “outrageous” and not rooted in fact, hence should be ignored by all.
“Let me state, as clearly as I can. The vaccines are safe. They will not harm you. They will protect you and your family. Contrary to the mischief being peddled by some, getting vaccinated will not cause you to vote for the NPP in the 2024 elections, if you do not want to. This is an outrageous claim. Vaccination cannot change your political preferences. That is not its purpose”, the President explained.
Following the emergence of COVID-19 vaccines, there have many postulations by some individuals in the country. According to some skeptics, the vaccines can render a man impotent, and interfere with with sexual performance. In recent times, one of such skeptical commentaries has been the fact that, the COVID-19 vaccines can influence a voter to vote for the New Patriotic Party in the 2020 general election.
But during his 27th COVID-19 address on December 13, President Akufo-Addo rubbished the claim and urged Ghanaians to take to jabs in that regard. According to him, he and his family have taken the vaccines with no adverse implications, as is being peddled. In his address, he emphasised that, the vaccine is “the best route out of the pandemic”.
“Getting the jab is the best route out of the pandemic, because, according to WHO, it reduces the risk of death, hospitalisation and the spread of the virus”, the President said.
He added that, “it is for this reason that we have committed ourselves to vaccinating some twenty million Ghanaians, that is the entire adult population, by the end of the year”.
President Akufo-Addo also used the occasion of his 27th COVID-19 update to urge Ghanaians to comply with the necessary safety etiquettes outlined by the Ghana Health Service and the World Health Organisation. This he believes will reduce the risk of increased infections during the upcoming Yuletide festivities.
The President concluded Wednesday evening’s address by charging Ghanaians to “live and act responsibly throughout the Christmas festivities”, bearing in mind that, the actions and inactions of Ghanaians will either mitigate the impact of the pandemic or aggravate the situation in the country.
So far, about 1,255 persons have lost their lives as a result of the virus. The records from the Ghana Health Service also indicate that some 973 citizens have currently been infected, with Greater Accra being the hotspot for the pandemic.
