PROVIDE INCENTIVE PACKAGES TO GHANAIANS DURING "PARTIAL LOCK-DOWN"

Professor Michael Kwateng

Chairman, IHRC Ghana

We bring you greetings from the International Human Rights Commission, Geneva Headquarters, as well as Africa Region Headquarters. We wish to express our displeasure and uncomfortable position about the situation we all find ourselves, this is a very difficult moment for all of us but with God on our side it will be a thing of the past.

The government of Ghana has already rolled out some programmes and policies to ensure that the COVID 19 virus does not get out of hand. This is a good move, therefore we are encouraging every Ghanaian to adhere to the measures that have been put in place by the government and the World Health Organization (WHO) so that together we can eradicate this menace. We agree to the government two (2) weeks "partial lock-down" measures in Accra and Kumasi to curtail further spread of the virus. This comes with its repercussions on the part of the affected Ghanaians, especially the disabled and the vulnerable who will be denied of their daily bread because they cannot go out to seek for the greener pastures. The government should see it as a responsibility to ensure that Ghanaians do not go through unnecessary hardship.

We are using this medium to appeal to the government of Ghana to intensify the supply of its relief programmes by releasing further incentives packages in the form of cash, food, water, emergency toilet facilities and protective health products to Ghanaians, especially affected cities. This will go a long way to reduce the economic pressure on these people. We are in the same way appealing to churches and other associations to support their members at this very moment. This is the time to show our compassion, love and brotherhood to one another, especially the orphans, widows and the vulnerable in the society.

We are by this communique reminding our security agencies about the commitment of the president and their top hierarchy to handle this exercise as a humanitarian one and not a war.  They should use their expertise to resist all temptations to intimidate and torture ordinary Ghanaians who are already going through psychasthenia condition. The government security machinery should be vigilant to ensure that no group of persons take advantage of the situation to cause mayhem or worsen the situation in the country.

We are similarly appealing to the leaders of our sister countries who are also going through the same situation to emulate the efforts of the Ghana government in tackling this Coronavirus pandemic.

In doing this we are exercising our fundamental human rights God has given us as a nation. Let us continue to pray to our Heavenly Father and I believe that “the Egyptians we see today will be seen no more”.

May God forgive our sins and deliver us all.

Thank you.

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