The Deputy General Secretary of the Ghana Medical Association (GMA), Dr. Titus Beyuo, has intimated that his outfit is, drawing the attention of the various authorities to prosecute persons who flouted the COVID-19 protocols at Sir John’s funeral.
Speaking in an interview, he stated that the GMA’s main concern has to do with the fact that, the footages from the event circulating shows that there was complete disregard for the COVID protocols.
“To the extent that people have been prosecuted for flouting this rule, we thought that we needed to draw attention of the authorities to investigate and prosecute anybody found culpable for the event that took place.
“At the initial stage, we saw what looked like some observance of the protocols. But as the program went on, the number of people exceeded the two metres allocation and the program went beyond the time frame.”
Dr. Beyuo
The Ghana Medical Association (GMA) yesterday, June 8, 2021 in a statement expressed disappointment over the total disregard for COVlD-19 protocols during the final funeral rites of the former Chief Executive officer of the Forestry Commission of Ghana, Lawyer Kwadwo Owusu Afriyie also known as Sir John.
Dr. Beyuo further averred that since social distancing was not observed, it makes the event a super spreader of the virus. He further described the violation of COVID protocols as unacceptable.
“Remember you don’t need the entire program to spread this pandemic. If you get such number of people gathered without many people wearing mask [and with] no observance of social distancing, the risk of transmission is high. And this program went on for more than two hours, so you can imagine the risk.”
Dr. Beyuo
Large gatherings could result in another surge
Moreover, Dr. Beyuo stated that such gatherings could result in the surge of the virus as it happened in early months of the year. He attributed the surge in January and February to all events that occurred during the Election and Christmas period.
“From the point of view of the epidemiological association,;if you follow the period in which political activities took place, you will know the rate of spread of this pandemic. So, if you get a surge at a certain time, you can play back to when the transmission is taking place that allowed the disease to propagate.”
Dr. Beyuo
Touching on the new surge of the virus as warned by the WHO, he indicated that,;the virus may spread based on the fact that a low population of African countries have been vaccinated. He also noted that most African countries have not been able to vaccinate more than 2.2% of its population,;which puts citizens at a higher risk.
“According to the WHO, this new surge may spread and they are also appealing for people to donate vaccines to Africa so that we can also vaccinate our population. So, with this in the background and with the effort government is making and not getting vaccines for everyone,;it is unconscionable that we will throw our own protocols to the dogs and then do whatever we want.” prosecute
Dr. Beyuo
