Joseph Kobla Wemakor writes – COVID-19 :The good side that we cannot hide
There is no good reward or success that is not preceded by difficulties and challenges. Covid-19 has some positive outcomes and memories we will not forget too early even as the world fights it.
First of all, let me commend His Excellency President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo for the measures put in place to mitigate the spread of the novel coronavirus pandemic in order to ensure that all Ghanaians remain safe. We might not have seen the effects of the three-week partial lockdown imposed in several areas of the country which was lifted last Sunday taking cognizance of the upsurge in the coronavirus cases recorded in the country but let’s give the honor to whom it is due in this regard.
- Gary Al-Smith writes: Ghana’s COVID-19 data put to the litmus test, found shaky and ambiguous
- BREAKING: Nigeria Postpones WAEC Exams For 2020 Indefinitely, What Next For Ghana’s WASSCE and BECE Candidates?
- COVID-19: It’s time to unite for solution, not time to apportion blame-T.T. Brothers Ltd.
Since his announcement about the lift on the lockdown, some Ghanaians have criticized the move, describing it as a ‘risky move’ noting that the country has confirmed more than 1,000 known cases of coronavirus. Let me also use this opportunity to congratulate our gallant men in uniform (law enforcement agencies), the police and the military personnel who supported the president in his quest to ensure that the lockdown protocols are observed all Ghanaians.
Have you recalled the alleged shootings and killings including brutalities meted out to civilians by the security forces who enforced the partial lockdown?
The security personnel deserve not only an applause but a standing ovation for their indefatigable roles played but however, let me be quick to condemn the ‘unhealthy act’ of some lockdown enforcement officers who misconducted themselves as I cannot close my eyes to the excesses. If I tell you I do not see anything wrong with the excesses, I may be directly saying instant justice is accepted.
In the wake of the lockdown restrictions NGOs CSOs, and the public complained about the excessive force used by both the police and the military officers to enforce the lockdown directives.
The use of brute force and draconian measures such as beating, sit-ups, slapping, spanking, push-ups, the use of cane including other alleged gruesome shooting and killings amounts to human rights abuse which go to defeat the purpose for which uniformed officials in town.
Apparently, this could be termed as the most deadly and the ugliest scenes which mar the lockdown and must not be allowed to repeat itself. No, never again in the history of Ghana!
First it was the 67-year-old widow who was allegedly assaulted by a police officer, followed by the shooting of a civilian by a military officer. Then came the fatal shooting and killing of a civilian, Eric Ofotsu, aka “No Yawa” by a military officer at Ashaiman Municipality on Sunday, April 5, 2020.
Meanwhile, there were other incidents of shooting in other parts of the country which mar the lockdown; the alleged shooting and wounding a motor rider, a 36-year-old Isaac Odei was shot and wounded by a soldier after he run a security blockade Dobro near Nsawam including some journalists who were allegedly assaulted while performing their duties which the Ghana Journalists (GJA) Association has condemned. There was also an unfortunate case where a soldier allegedly shot a policewoman, Lance Corporal Francisca Tengey who was on duty at Tema New Town in the Tema Metropolis of the Greater Accra Region. The rise in incidents of this nature by our men in uniform gives cause for concern.
Disgusting indeed!, it still beats my imagination to know that ever since the alleged abominable acts of our men in uniform found its way into the public domain captured on short videos assaulting and brutalizing civilians which have gone viral on social media as proof, no form of investigation has been carried out yet to identify the perpetrators and have them punished accordingly.
These acts of lawlessness have since received wide condemnation from the Human Rights Reporters Ghana (HRRG), a non-governmental organization (NGO) including other Civil Society Organizations in the country through their various press releases issued out to the media with the hope that the authorities will take action but to no avail.
This unfortunate rise in incidents of use of brutal means to keep people off the streets during lockdown did not only happen in Ghana, but other African countries like Nigeria, South Africa, Uganda and Kenya which was reported by some International Media outlets.
Equally, elsewhere in Malaysia, UK and other parts of the world there were abuse of power by the police to enforce COVID-19 lockdown which shouldn’t have been the norm.
There have also been worldwide reports of a rise in racism and xenophobia as a result of the spread of the coronavirus, fuelled in part by hate speech and disinformation online.
I believe while protecting public health must be prioritized, we should not abandon our principles and commitments to other rights including equality and non-discrimination.
The professionalism of the security personnel across the world in recent times has been called to question as they seemed to have chosen abuse of power over competence instead of the other way round.
Maybe it’s about time our men in uniform particularly the deviant ones among the good ones who are always engaged in flouting the laws should bow down their heads in shame. They should endeavor to choose competency over abuse of power and cling to honor.
The novel coronavirus pandemic may have brought the world woes, sorrows and untold hardships culminating into bad and ugly situation but in the midst of all these, we can heave a sigh of relief and part ourselves in the shoulders for good and say. “It is well”. The story of Ghana my beloved country is no difference as it is happening in other parts of the world including Africa in terms of the goodies we as citizens have enjoyed since when the deadly pandemic reared its ugly head into the shores of the country in March.
Hell broke loose on that fateful day of March 12, 2020 when the news went viral about the confirmation of the first two cases of COVID-19 in Ghana when two people returned from Norway and Turkey. Indeed the sad news send shivers down the spine of many Ghanaians amidst heightened fear despite all the woes it brings, the good news is that Ghana’s President, Nana Akufo-Addo came out to announce that his government will foot the water bills of all Ghanaians for the months of April, May and June. GOOD NEWS!
He also proclaimed that no one will have his electricity power disconnected for the next three months for lack of payment. GOOD NEWS!.
“The Ghana Water Company Limited and the Electricity Company of Ghana have been directed to ensure the stable supply of water and electricity during this period. There will be no disconnection of supply”.
These measures announced by President Akufo-Addo are aimed at cushioning the public, especially the vulnerable families, from effects of the coronavirus pandemic.
Ghanaians welcomed the good news from the president with glee. For the first time in history, government has come out to give free water and free electricity for 3 months? Wow!, isn’t this a good news to jubilate over?. I wish you could see the smile in my face as I type these few words to complete my sentence.
Wait minute… I’m not yet done with the good news about the COVID-19 and the lockdown okay, I beg your pardon just wait for me to finish before you can go ahead and taunt me. Hey!
Following, the proclamation of free electricity and water for 3 months period to all Ghanaians, government also announces free food for over 400,000 in locked down areas amidst the COVID-19 outbreak in the country. This was also announced by the president on Sunday when he addressed the nation to update Ghanaians on some measures being taken by the government in the fight against the pandemic. In his address, Nana Akufo-Addo admitted that the hardship the situation has brought on the majority of Ghanaians adding that there was however the need for the provision of “food packages and hot meals” to enable poor households to minimize their vulnerability. GOOD NEWS INDEED!
Bam! Wow! That was another good news up there for Ghanaians in vulnerable communities in within the lockdown area; Accra, Tema, Kumasi and Kasoa. This include stranded head porters also known as kayayei. First time in the history of Ghana we have witnessed over 400,000 vulnerable people within these earmarked communities provided with free hot meals in addition to free water and electricity for 3 months. This is so incredible, an initiative that can only be powered by the deadly novel coronavirus himself!
The question is does deadly things only kill or they heal too? Your guess is as good as mine!.
The charitable move by the government to relieve the plights of the vulnerable ones during the lockdown was augmented by the faith-based organizations, NGOs, CSOs, philanthropists and corporate organizations, political parties as well as Former President John Dramani Mahama who were equally moved in to donate food, water, medicine, hand sanitizers and other essentials to support emulate the gesture.
Similar initiatives has been replicated in other parts of the world including African countries. But beyond the philanthropic gestures, the coronavirus pandemic has put a stop to many social vices which puts people’s lives at risk. For example, in the wake of coronavirus pandemic and the lockdown, ritual killings, armed robbery, prostitution, womanizing and promiscuity and above all other criminal activities including the “almighty kidnapping” has come to a halt. Eeerrh, like seriously?, this is unbelievable.! If you would recalled between late 2018 and 2019, the activities of kidnappers have wreaked havoc in Ghana with rising cases of kidnapping which has become a nightmare to every Ghanaian. The phenomenon witnessed many cases including disappearance of three girls at Takoradi whose hope of being found still remain a mystery.
It beats the imaginations of most Ghanaians why the so-called kidnappers have ceased to carry out their nefarious activities of seizing unsuspecting victims as they used to do. At this point, I’m equally wondering why the so-called miscreants have not moved in action to doing what they know doing best barely few months ago. Anyway, I’m tempted to ask a question right now but aww, it just dawn on me that, the “almighty Papa coronavirus pandemic” is the reason why all the ‘nonsense’ we see happening around us including other parts of the world have ceased to repeat itself in recent times.
I remembered hearing someone earlier said: “CORONA VIRUS STOPS NONSENSE”!
Is this saying true or false?
Source: Joseph Kobla Wemakor