Ghanaians will be affected by lockdown – Akufo-Addo

President Nana Addo-Dankwah Akufo-Addo has stated that the government cannot make a hasty decision to lock down the country to contain the coronavirus spread.

He was of the view that a lockdown would have an enormous socio-economic impact, especially on wage-earners and ordinary citizens.

He acknowledged concerns by citizens on a lockdown which had become a topical decision.

“Majority of people who will be affected by decisions of that nature [lockdown] are the working people of our country. The ordinary people of Ghana; they are the ones who will be most affected,” he told the leadership of the Trades Union Congress (TUC) in a meeting at the Jubilee House on Thursday.

He said, “circumstances and conditions” must be taken into account before such decisions.

As such, “A responsible government is required to look at all the implications before decisions are made, and that is the exercise which we are currently engaged”.

He said comprehensive consultative discussions were ongoing, and the outcome of deliberations would be communicated to the Ghanaian populace.

Ghana has recorded 123 cases of COVID-19 so far. One person has recovered, and another is in critical condition.

Considering the current circumstances of the spread, some groups and individuals including the Ghana Medical Association (GMA) have called for an immediate shutdown except for providers of essential services.