Akufo-Addo is not an idiot – George Quaye on lifting lockdown

Event organizer and radio personality George Quaye has thrown a subliminal shot at persons who are suggesting President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo failed to subject the decision to lift the partial lockdown to vehement scrutiny.

The president on April 19 lifted a three-week old restriction on movements imposed on the Greater Accra, Greater Kumasi, Tema and Kasoa in its fight against Coronavirus.

According to the president, the decision was influenced by several factors including Ghana’s ability to undertake aggressive contact tracing, an enhanced capacity to test, expansion of the number of treatment and isolation centres as well as the impact of the virus on the poor and vulnerable in the affected areas.

Moments after the announcement, a section of the public took to various social media platforms to express utmost disappointment in the development as they argued that the best decision would have been extending the lockdown or imposing stiffer measures considering the fact that the case count had crossed a thousand.

For some persons, the president has failed the country in that regard.

Reacting to the remarks, George Quaye asked critics to cut the president some slack.

“It’s always easy to question a decision from the comfort of an arm chair,” he says in a Facebook post. “Our president is not an idiot and he is not surrounded by airheads. I’m pretty sure a lot of deep thought, debates, conversations, arguments and counter arguments went into the decision to ‘unlock’ the ‘lockdown’. As mentioned in one of his addresses (if I am not mistaken), your front door is your personal frontline hero in this battle against COVID-19.”

The Image Bureau CEO advised all to adhere to the preventive protocols instead of throwing unnecessary shots.

He said: “If you have nothing doing in town, please #stayhome! If you need to step out, please follow all the safety protocols and wear a face mask! If your employer insists you come to work, ensure he’s also made the environment safe. If he hasn’t, invest in your own safety! Your safety is your priority. The lockdown has been unlocked. Let’s kick Ghana’s economic motor into motion again please.”

Meanwhile President Akufo-Addo has emphasized that other measures including the ban on public gatherings remain unchanged.

“I must make it clear, at the outset, that lifting these restrictions does not mean we are letting our guard down. All other measures are still firmly in place. For the avoidance of doubt, the earlier measures announced on Wednesday, 15th March, which have been extended, are still very much in force, and have not been relaxed. I am demanding even greater adherence to these measures.

“In here, I am referring to the suspension of all public gatherings, including conferences, workshops, funerals, parties, nightclubs, drinking spots, beaches, festivals, political rallies, religious activities and sporting events. All educational facilities, private and public, are to remain closed. Businesses and other workplaces can continue to operate, observing staff management and workplace protocols with the view to achieving social distancing and hygiene protocols,” he said.