Coronavirus: FOSDA hails government for extending nation’s border closure

The Foundation for Security and Development in Africa (FOSDA), a regional civil society organization, has lauded Government for extending the closure of the nation’s borders, as part of measures to contain the COVD-19 pandemic.

Mrs Theodora Williams Anti, the Programmes Manager, FOSDA, speaking to the Ghana News Agency on Wednesday in Accra, said maintaining the nation’s border closures was essential because Ghana, which had now recorded over 8,000 COVID-19 confirmed cases were not yet out of the woods.

It would be recalled that President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo on May 31, extended the closure of Ghana’s land, air and sea borders to human traffic until further notice.

The President also outlined a gradually phased easing on some public gatherings beginning June 5, with a maximum attendance of 100 persons.

Mrs Anti said the easing of restrictions by the Government was in line with general international best practices and that globally, nations were easing the COVID-19 restrictions because people must adjust to life with the coronavirus.

She said the Government had done quite well in managing the COVID-19 pandemic; stating the step by step approach and the usage of science and data by the Government in handling the situation has boosted the confidence of the people and allayed their fears.

“Generally, we have all done well; both as a Government and as a people, but there are still issues with compliance with the COVID-19 protocols.”

Mrs Anti appealed to Government to tread cautiously in the easing of the COVID-19 restrictions so that it does not lead to an escalation of the pandemic.

She called for the gradual adjustment of social measures and public health, while regularly assessing risks.

She appealed to Ghanaians to take more seriously the World Health Organisation (WHO) protocols and Ghana Health Service Guidelines on combating COVID-19.

She also appealed for a better implementation of the Government’s COVID-19 stimulus package for Ghanaians, businesses and individuals to ease the COVID-19 burden, because people had lost their jobs due to the pandemic.

She said apart from the health sector and the ongoing package for businesses, there was still a lot more to do with easing the COVID-19 burden and that the Government should look at that area strongly.

She urged Government to put in place a system that would keep data on individuals so that in case of an outbreak of a similar pandemic in the near future, the nation would be in a better position to help the vulnerable.