Akufo-Addo is Losing The Fight Against Covid-19– Mintah Akando

Member of Parliament for Sefwi Juaboso constituency, Mr. Kwabena Mintah Akando has stated that the NPP Government under President Akufo-Addo is trailing on the fight against the Covid-19 pandemic in the country.

According to Mr. Akando since the outbreak of this pandemic, the Akufo-Addo led 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, this was after Government failed to be proactive in closing our borders early. Since then, Ghana's confirmed cases have increased exponentially to 71,533 as of 8th February this year and record more than 700 newly confirmed cases daily with current active cases of 6,411.

At the last count, Ghana has lost 472 lives to the virus as of yesterday with about 137 (29%) of these deaths occurring only this year. The trend of infections and death is worrying and if nothing is done immediately to arrest the situation our outturn it would be a complete disaster,” the Juaboso lawmaker has said.

"However, we want to take this opportunity to thank all our Health workers who have demonstrated courage and love to lead in the fight against Covid-19.

Many have sacrificed their lives and families to give life to infected patients Some have even died while on duty, We indeed appreciate their efforts and to those who lost their lives may their souls rest in peace.

He said Information from Ghana Health Service shows that about 32% of confirmed cases now report to medical centers sick as compared to 21% in 2020. 

“Our positivity rates for routine surveillance and enhanced contact tracing all now hover above 10%. This means for every 100 Ghanaians who turn out for testing or are contact traced, 10 of them have the virus. 

This calls for increased routine surveillance and more contact tracing before the situation gets out of hand. But in spite of the urgent need, contact tracing, it is currently at its barest minimum with the government not willing to engage contact tracers after suspending their services in April of last year.”

He further stated that with the discovery of the new variant of Covid-19 in Ghana, one would expect that experienced frontline health professionals would be deployed to man the health centers but sadly this is not the case simply because the government has reneged on its promise to pay some frontline healthcare professionals their 50% allowances and the insurance packages for those who got infected or die in their line of duty.

The former indicated that the Covid-19 situation is getting out of hand considering its toll on our human capital. Many prominent and highly experienced Ghanaians serving in critical positions of our socioeconomic system are dying - doctors, lawyers, teachers, Chiefs, ambassadors, religious leaders, entrepreneurs, politicians among others.

The MP noted again that, it is becoming apparent to all 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.

The rate of infections is 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-19 teams due to failure on the government's part to fulfill its promises to them.

 EK. Ansah/ Parliamentary Correspondent