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With the confirmation of COVID 19 in Ghana, citizens
are urging the President to close all borders. Closing the borders is necessary
yet not the most fundamental step, especially, when safe handwashing in public
places is not practised assiduously, movements within the country has not been
restricted, large public meetings are still occurring, and handshaking is still
a common practice. A cross-section of employees are wearing white gloves for
some protection. However, it is crucial to distance oneself from the infected,
seek medical advice immediately one observes the symptoms in one. One must
cough or sneeze into one’s shoulder or tissues. Most importantly and humanely,
a person should self-isolate immediately s/he experiences the symptoms.
In February 2020, WHO warned governments: “Be
prepared; Corona Virus is coming”. Epidemiologists have furthered that COVID 19
is going to get worse before it can be contained. Therefore, to fight the virus
with vigour, all recommended safe practices must be observed simultaneously. Logically,
Heads of state must make tough decisions that might affect their territorial
sovereignties and beyond.
The President has outlined resources
for tackling the infection; however, Central Government provisions should be
complemented at regional, municipal and district, institutional and domestic
levels. Therefore, I implore the President to order all agencies to establish safe
handwashing facilities. Sydney has inscribed in its skies: “Wash HANDS”. Some
African countries have placed standing washing basins in public places such as
markets, lorry stations. I am also suggesting to President Akufo-Addo to order
all metropolitan, municipal and district authorities, administrative
machineries to establish handwashing facilities across their jurisdictions. In
the absence of ceramic wash basins, Jemima handwashing containers, regularly
filled will soapy water, will suffice.
And the President must not accept the
salutary no funds stoppage from any
of the stakeholders. Each and every metropolis, municipality, district is home
to markets and lorry stations. Occupants of stalls are obliged to honour the assembly’s
daily ticket system. Commercial drivers also pay daily tolls. The President
must decree that GPRTU/PROTOA and each Assembly should use its ticket funds for
the next one week, solely, to purchase handwashing facilities i.e. water,
containers, soap. Each container should be fitted with a tube that would ensure
that dirty water goes to a drain, not muddy occupying areas.
The size of a market or station will
determine the quantity of facilities. Once established, it would be a matter of
replenishing supplies and replacing worn-out containers. The Assemblies/GPRTU/PROTOA
do not have to collect the money for the procurement of the facilities. Each
should just announce to stall occupants and union members that within the next
seven days, ticket money should be collected by the occupants/members and be
used to purchase the necessary quantity of Jemima containers, soap and water
for each block of 5-10 stalls or per a station. It would be demotivating if people
should walk too far to wash their hands. Purchases must be backed by proper
receipts. For sustainability of the provision, ticket funds for one day should
be reserved, henceforth, for replenishment and maintenance. Thus, the people
will own the facility, benefit directly from their tax and undoubtedly
appreciate the transparency.
Within that same week, the Deputy
Minister in charge of Tertiary education should receive a report from each
university, college and any other post-secondary institution, detailing handwashing
facilities spread conveniently across campuses. The Director-General of the
Ghana Education Service will facilitate those provisions at the basic and
secondary levels – private and public. School fees has a sanitation component,
which should be utilized for handwashing facilities. Ministries, hospitals,
patrons of all other public spaces should so oblige through their internal
funds. Those who default should be prosecuted for endangering public health.
COVID 19 is a forceful reminder of how quickly things
can get out of hand, that human progress notwithstanding, nature wields
absolute control over humanity, and not the other way round. Even so, WHO has
advised that “all countries can change the
course of this pandemic." Washing hands with soap, covering one’s mouth
when coughing or sneezing are very important acts now. Each and every one has that responsibility
