Leaving Universities, churches out of lockdown lifting ‘discriminatory’ – Analyst

President of the Institute for Security, Disaster and Emergency Studies, Dr Ishmael Norman, has described as discriminatory the decision by President Akufo-Addo to exempt institutions including universities and churches from operating.

President Akufo-Addo in his seventh address to the nation on Sunday, April 19, lifted a three-week lockdown imposed on Accra, Tema, Kasoa and Kumasi.

He, however, stated that the ban on all social gatherings remained in full force. All schools, both private and public as well as religious activities, will remain shut.

Akufo-Addo lifts coronavirus lockdown despite cases exceeding 1000

But Dr. Ishamel Norman in an interview on Accra-based Starr FM said the decision was senseless. According to him, tertiary schools and religious organisation could also practice social distancing just as markets and shops which were now allowed to operate.

“You are discriminating in the easing of restrictions against universities, churches and schools. What explained that? Has epidemiology established that this was the epicentre of the disease in Ghana? No”

“It simply doesn’t make deep sense even if you’re following the science or you’re following the economist of the epidemiologist. It doesn’t make sense to allow portions of the economy to get back to work and then hold back portions of the economy,” he said.

Ghana’s coronavirus case count stood at 1,042, nine (9) deaths and 99 recoveries as of April 20, 2020.

Ten (10) out of 16 regions across the country have recorded confirmed cases of the virus with Greater Accra Region being the hardest-hit with 882 confirmed cases.

Globally, some 2,418,845 people have been infected with the virus. 165,759 others have also died as a result of the disease.