The Event Vendors Association of Ghana, has expressed their worry over the ban on all large social gatherings, as they reckon it will have implications on their business.
Following President Akufo-Addo’s announcement during his 23rd COVID-19 update to the nation, the Association reckons it will have a significant toll on their operations.
Speaking in an interview, Richard Abbey Junior, the Public Relations Officer of the Event Vendors, while commending the government, appealed that the authorities find ways of preserving their livelihood and that of the many people in the value chain.
“I know we are facing the issue of daily bread and death, but we need to look at it and see how we can balance the two, where we still can have our daily bread and control the COVID-19 virus. So, the President’s statement, I can say it’s from a father figure point of view and also from the point that there is safety rather than us being sorry. But to the extent that the very informal sector who are members of Event Vendors Association of Ghana, including carpenters, painters, florists, DJs etc are all gone down because this [ban] is an indefinite one.”
One of such vendors, Kate Hassan, explained that, a lot of preparations have been made, “even people coming from abroad who have postponed their wedding since last year”.
“I have three clients who are coming in this weekend just for their weddings and now there is a total ban. We are lost, and it’s like we are in the middle of nowhere. We don’t know what to do. Clients call us, and we don’t know what to tell them because we are totally blank on what to say or think”.
As part of measures to help prevent the further spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Ghana, the government re-introduced restrictions on public gatherings on January 31, 2021.
President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo during his speech stated that, “Until further notice, funerals, weddings, concerts, theatrical performances and parties are banned”.
“Private burials, with no more than 25 people can take place, with the enforcement of social distancing, hygiene and mask wearing protocols.”
The President’s announcement triggered a discussion on why religious gatherings under strict protocols as prescribed and for two hours have been allowed but events such as funerals and weddings had been banned.
The Minister-designate for Information, Mr. Kojo Oppong-Nkrumah, however, explained that the new restrictions on social gatherings, as announced by President Akufo-Addo last Sunday, does not mean a ban on marriages.
Rather, he says the social activity of parties and/or receptions associated with occasions such as funerals and marriages is what has been banned.
“The president did not ban burial service because the activity of burial, we actually encourage to go on… What is banned is the funeral where typically in the Ghanaian community, we will all gather, shake hands, announcement of people, then they’ll call for a song, people will come and dance, where there is a little party associated with it. That is what has been banned.
“In the same way, when it comes to marriage, what the president has said is that, what in Ghana we call wedding, the full-blown wedding where we have a big party with reception and people dancing and people eating, sitting at reception tables, etc, that is what has been banned”.
Kojo Opppong Nkrumah
