COVID 19: Precipitating Presidential Decrees

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