Member of Parliament for Juaboso constituency, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, has expressed his displeasure in what he deems as government’s lack of competence in managing the surge in COVID-19 cases in the country.
Speaking at the Miniority in Parliament’s press conference on COVID-19 management, Mr. Akandoh explained that, government failed to be proactive in closing the country’s borders early and as a result confirmed cases has increased “exponentially to 71,533 as of 8th February this year and records more than 700 newly confirmed cases daily with current active cases of 6,411”.
“Since the outbreak of this pandemic, government has not shown competence in the management of the virus. The first two (2) cases of Covid-19 in Ghana were reported in March, 2020″.
At the last count, Ghana has lost 472 lives to the virus as of yesterday with about 137 or 29% of these deaths occurring only this year. He described this as worrying, with the trend of infections and death, averring that if nothing is done “immediately to arrest the situation, our outturn with Covid would be a complete disaster”.
Also with the discovery of the new variant of Covid-19 in Ghana, the Juaboso legislator noted that “one would expect that experienced frontline health professionals would be deployed to man our Covid-19 health centres”, however, he intimated that is not the case as government has “reneged on its promise to pay some frontline healthcare professionals their 50% allowances and the insurance packages for those who get infected or die in the line of duty”.
Recounting the loss of lives ranging from prominent and “highly experienced Ghanaians serving in critical positions of our socioeconomic”, he said it has become apparent that “Ghana is losing the fight against the virus due to poor leadership”.
“President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and his technical team of advisors have not demonstrated enough competence in handling this pandemic contrary to all they have been trumpeting. Rate of infections are increasing. Technical guidelines on prevention and management are not being enforced. Contact Tracing has been abandoned.
“Disappointed health workers have chosen not to join Covid teams due to failure on government’s part to fulfil its promises to them. Public health facilities are collapsing under heavy financial constraints due to lack of adequate subventions from government to finance the procurement of goods and services”.
Proffering some recommendations, Mr. Akandoh believes if they are implemented, will go a long way to stymie the new wave of the virus and its management. Government, according to him, should dissolve the Technical Advisory Team formed in 2020 and recompose a Technical Team that is multidisciplinary and non-partisan, competent enough to direct the management of Covid-19 in the country.
Furthermore, he explained government should release enough funds to the Regional and District Health Teams to enhance contact tracing and case testing and pay all the monies promised Health workers.
“As a matter of urgency expand more management facilities and build capacity to handle the many severe cases that are likely to be confirmed. Schools should be adequately resourced and supported to make the environment safe from Covid-19.
“The media should be considered by the Government and given enough financial and other resources to enable them carry out public education on Covid-19. We entreat all people living in Ghana to strictly comply with the Covid-19 safety protocols to prevent further spread of the infection”.
