Broadcast Journalist Kojo Yankson has raised some questions about President Akufo-Addo’s 5th national address on the update on coronavirus in Ghana.
President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo announced some intervention measures to support for citizens on Sunday, April 5, 2020 in his fifth update on COVID-19 epidemic. Some of the president’s interventions includes no water bills for 3 months, constant supply of electricity, free transport for health workers, distribution of food, money among several other things.
Kojo has commended President Akufo-Addo’s timely intervention and how Ghanaians are excited about it but he has however raised some questions concerning the president’s speech. “Package for the health workers; very exciting packages full of so many goodies for those who are on the frontline”.
Firstly, The Joy News Anchor believes the president has neglected the private health sector in his intervention measures for health workers.
“Am wondering what does this mean for the private sector? They are not included in this as far as I can tell, but they are also on the frontline. So the question is; if they are not part of such intensives, will it end up being a disincentive for them? Could we start to see some of these private hospitals having workers not very willing to risk their lives on the frontline simply because the package for them is not as great as it could be?”
He also raised questions about Electricity Company of Ghana(ECG) and how they can be able to provide uninterrupted power supply as announced by the president and why they have to wait for the president’s order before they carry out their responsibility and where government is going raise funds to provide constant electricity and water supply.
He also questioned as to how the soft loan president announced can be accessed and who qualifies to access it, testing of contacts tracing, the method of distribution of hot meals being distributed by NADMO to vulnerable citizens and how it may be politicised, the manufacturing of face mask, ventilators in Ghana among other things. Kojo also asked how transparent the testing process is.
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