Former Vice chairman of Coffin Makers Association, Samuel Kwadwo Antwi has emphasized the shortcomings of coffin makers in the coronavirus period defining it as ‘hard-hitting’.

According to him, government’s ban on public gathering has caused postponements in demands, which has affected investment yet the decision was conversed as the best to help restrain the virus in such a time.

“Covid 19 has ceased many of our activities. People who demanded coffins for funerals in January and February still have their orders waiting due to the ban on public gathering. Majority of the people do not want to have bodies of deceased buried without funeral hence the delays,” he said.

The President of Ghana, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo extended the ban on public gathering, including religious activities, festivals and funerals till the end of May.

"So, during this period, there will continue to be a ban on public gatherings such as holding of conferences, workshops, parties, night clubs, drinking spots, festivals, political rallies, religious activities, sporting events. All educational facilities private and public remain closed.

"There is still a ban on funerals, other than private burials with not more than 25 persons. It is noteworthy that the police are arresting and prosecuting persons, irrespective of their status in society who flout these regulations.”

Speaking to SoireeNews, Kwadwo Antwi voiced that majority of families who have their relatives at the morgue prefers interment, and that has contributed to lesser and economical purchases. He accounted that during the formal days, the least of coffins demanded within a month were extensive enough to help expand and take care of families.

“People buried during the covid-19 season are the less impacting in the society whose coffins are inexpensive and does not demand much people to be present. Such purchases does not heavily affect our funds.

READ ALSO:

Obuasi East DCE prefers curfew over lock down due to challenging conditions

“During the ordinary days where funerals are active, the least number of purchased coffins are 20. From January to March, the activities are intense until April, where the rainy season interrupts funerals. Business later resumes in August where relatives abroad normally make plans for rites of passage,” he added.

When asked as to whether the lifting of the lockdown contributed to the rise in Ghana’s coronavirus cases, he discouraged the saying and called on Ghanaians to trust the decision of the president given that he became the leader based on Ghanaians decision to hand him power.

He commended Nana Addo for his boldness towards the fight against the pandemic and the necessity for people to understand the challenging Ghanaian economy unlike other nations.

“You can see how the numbers keep increasing every day. We do not know when it will be safe for the ban on social distancing to be upheld so it has been tough for us.

“People should not blame the rise of figures on the president lifting the lockdown measures. The rate of infection were likely to go up for the reason that majority of travelers had already entered the country before the borders were closed. Majority of the people desired to come home so they took the back door means to enter the nation without the symptoms been shown. That alone contributed a lot to the spread.

“The lifting of the lockdown ended the financial hardship people were going through. You cannot depend on the government’s food distribution. Majority of people complained of not benefitting from the initiative unlike the western system where everything is fairly done. Our system is poor and we must accept that and adhere to the wearing of nose masks and washing of hands. That’s the best way.

"We must be patient and wait on the president’s call. When he feels it is appropriate to lift the ban on social gathering, so be it but until then, he is our leader and every command he gives must be observed," he ended.

He pleaded on government to provide Coffin Makers Association a location for trade, which will easily help locate and progress their work.