The National Commission on Culture (NCC) has presented a double cabin Mitsubishi pick-up and a cheque of GHS 646,400 to the COVID-19 National Trust Fund.
Chairperson of the Fund, Justice (Rtd) Sophia Abena Akuffo received the donation on behalf of the fund at the secretariat on Thursday, December 17, 2020.
The Chairperson, during the presentation, lamented that many people have let their guard down even “though coronavirus is still with us and causing havoc.
“Unfortunately it seems that whenever the graph seems to be coming down and leveling off, there is a spike and I think it is quite obvious that when people see the dip, they drop their guards,” she said.
She further added that “then the parties and the handshakes and hugging, yes we love each other but let’s stop the hugging for a bit, let’s stay alive so that we can hug later.”
She strongly advised that Ghanaians be extra careful especially in this festive season.
“We now have Christmas around; we have already gone through elections with people breathing over each other, only goodness knows what is going to happen to the spikes.”
The former Chief Justice expressed concern with the recent happening in the nation’s political activities, stressing that it could cause a spike in the number of infected persons in the country.
“Now there are demonstrations and people shouting-shouting-shouting, only God knows what spike that will bring and there are those rejoicing due to political reasons and they too what spike are they going to bring?”
Justice (RTD) Akufo, therefore, urged everyone to be on their guards, and take into consideration all COVID-19 safety protocols while enjoying their Christmas so as to not put themselves and loved ones at risk of infection.
As the funds in the Trust Fund gradually depreciates, Justice (RTD) Sophia Akuffo also appealed to corporate institutions, benevolent groups, and associations to continue to make donations to the Trust Fund to finance its activities.
She emphasized that more applications for support come to the Secretariat on daily basis and as such they look forward to more donations for onward distribution to facilities in need.
The Executive Director of the NCC, Mrs Janet Edna Nyame , on her part assured that through cultural displays, drama, music, poetry, the Commission will make conscious effort in helping to educate the masses on the need to protect themselves against COVID-19.
She expressed the Commission’s unflinching support to the fight against COVID-19.
According to the Ghana Health Service, Ghana as of December 14, 2020 had recorded a total of 53,553 number of infected persons. Out of this number, some 52,226 persons have recovered while 331 persons have unfortunately lost their lives. Active cases stood at 956.
Health experts globally have cautioned a second wave of COVID-19 infection. Countries like Canada upon easing of restrictions have had to reinforce some of these restrictions as the nation experiences a surge in the number of daily infections.
With no commercialized vaccine, the world is still in wait as some countries have gone back on lockdown. However, there are a number of proposed vaccines in various stages of trials with that of Pfizer and Moderna being relatively known.
