The Minority in Parliament has cautioned Government against tackling the coronavirus pandemic as a PR exercise rather than a real crisis management.
Government, it warned, cannot outsmart the science or outrun reality, which will ultimately expose the inadequacies in the fight against the pandemic.
The Minority stressed it has no desire to witness such failure because the cost will be the loss of lives and livelihoods of Ghanaians.
At a news conference, the Minority leader, Haruna Iddrisu, warned if the containment strategy employed by the government continues on the same path, the brunt of the burden will fall on frontline healthcare workers.
The Minority, he said, is therefore worried about how science has been relegated to the background by President Nana Akufo-Addo.
“The President now appears to be relying on Signs and Wonders forgetting the old adage that Heaven helps those who help themselves,” he stated.
According to the Minority leader, President Akufo-Addo has taken a terrible gamble with the lives of Ghanaians when he lifted the lockdown at a time Ghana’s case count is increasing.
That decision, he argued, has led to the situation where since the removal of the lockdown, confirmed cases have more than doubled and deaths have more than tripled.
He accused the President of weighing his political fortunes against the health consideration of Ghanaians in taking decisions on the COVID-19 pandemic.
He said, “We have in the process seen hotspots emerge virtually in all parts of Ghana since the lifting of the lockdown.
President Akufo-Addo must, therefore, take responsibility for this unfortunate turn of events,” he stated.
The Minority expressed support for calls by the Ghana Medical Association for a different approach in containing and limiting the spread of COVID-19.
“We are in full support of this call. President Akufo-Addo should be led by sound epidemiological data and not political calculations,” he stated.
Mr. Iddrisu cautioned government against pursuing agendas that put the lives of Ghanaians at risk especially the frontline healthcare workers.
Their courage and competence, the Minority leader stressed, are going to be the last defense for many Ghanaians who will face the worst of this disease.
He said, “And yet, despite the President’s lofty rhetoric and grand assurances, the healthcare system remains so unbelievably unprepared for the battle that has already begun. Our health care workers cannot face the weeks ahead unequipped and unprotected.”
“They cannot provide the needed care to the critically ill if they continue to lack adequate PPEs and even basic supplies such as hand sanitizers.”
“And they should not have to pay for these things out of their own pockets, let alone go begging for them from the public. This is unpardonable.”
“And now government mocks their commitment by insisting that the very real dangers they face – the dangers to their families too are well under control and nothing to be concerned about,” he added.
The Minority warned President Akufo-Addo to tread cautiously and not to take decisions to ease restrictions in order to satisfy his political interests.
He urged health care professionals, civil society, religious leaders, and traditional rulers to be adults in the room and offer guidance and fearless advice for the sake of Ghana.
