Ghana’s Parliament on Friday evening passed a law that would give the president the power to impose certain levels of restrictions.
The Imposition of Restriction Bill 2020 which has now been passed into law is to allow the president to impose restrictions on the movement of people in the event of a disaster, emergency or similar circumstances to ensure public safety and protection.
The new law will also give the president the power to also restrict the freedom of entry into Ghana.
The law became inevitable after Ghana confirmed 19 cases of coronavirus and the threat of the spread surging.
Health officials in Ghana say the concern over more cases was due to the local community infections being recorded.
Anxiety among Ghanaians
With anxiety among Ghanaians the president appears to be under pressure to announce further measures to stop the spread of the disease.
So far schools have been closed, public gatherings banned, religious activities suspended and travel bans imposed.
The Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration Ministry has also announced a closure of the VIP Section of the Kotoka International Airport as a measure to stop the importation of the virus.
“The decision is critical to secure Ghana’s borders and ports of entry especially KIA against any further importation of virus into the country. In light of the foregoing, it has become mandatory for all inbound and outbound passengers including emergency cases to use the terminal 3 of the KIA and go through laid down arrival and departure protocols” the statement said.
Markets in the country will also shut down on Monday for a fumigation exercise. So what else can the president do to keep people away from public places to bend the curve of spread?
Call for lockdown
Some health experts have called for a lockdown following the passage of the Imposition of Restriction
A senior Ghanaian researcher at the Noguchi Memorial Institute of Medical Research, Dr. Kofi Boni told local news channel Joy News that a “gradual lockdown” will help prevent the spread of the coronavirus.
But Ghana’s Information minister, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah has reacted to fears of a lockdown saying “no he will not be announcing a lockdown so don’t panic.”
He however signals that the President “will address the nation tonight with latest updates and measures,” on the Covid-19.
@NAkufoAddo has just concluded a mtg of the Covid-19 response ctee. H.E. Will address the nation tonight with latest updates and measures. But no he will not be announcing a lockdown so don’t panic. #SpreadCalmNotFear pic.twitter.com/gLkaJLRy9e
— Kojo Oppong Nkrumah (@konkrumah) March 21, 2020
Ghanaian tech entrepreneur, Bright Simon however writes on twitter that “Highly placed sources: Ghana’s President advised by National Security Council to commence lockdown from tomorrow (Sunday).
We all agree that these are unprecedented times. But this is not the time to copy blindly. “Lockdown” must mean very specific things in an African context. Nothing generic.”
He laments that “1. Most emergency workers have no cars of their own 2. Ambulance service is sclerotic 3. So public transport is part of critical transit system. 4. Community pharmacies are major health outlets. 5. Radio stations are the functional emergency frequencies.”
Examples: 1. most emergency workers have no cars of their own 2. Ambulance service is sclerotic 3. So public transport is part of critical transit system. 4. Community pharmacies are major health outlets. 5. Radio stations are the functional emergency frequencies. #SmartPolicyPls
— Bright Simons (@BBSimons) March 21, 2020
Meanwhile many Ghanaians across social media have been clamouring for a lockdown with many of them believing it is the only way to stop the spread of the virus.
Source: Africafeeds.com
