By Newswatchgh.com Editorial Team
Caritas Ghana, the Charity Organization of the Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference (GCBC), has lauded the government for demonstrating leadership that restores hope and inspires action by announcing of social intervention measures to cushion Ghanaians in the wake of the novel coronavirus pandemic.
“The President, His Excellency Nana Addo Dankwa Akuffo-Addo, has once singled out, acknowledged and recognized those who are at the frontline of this battle against COVID-19, said the Executive Secretary of Caritas Ghana, Mr. Samuel Zan Akologo.
In a televised address to the nation on April 5, 2020, President Akufo-Addo enumerated some social interventions the government had put in place to bring some relief to the citizens including governments efforts in working with others and faith-based organizations to provide food for about 400,000 people, absorbing of water bills of all Ghanaians for the next three Months (April – June); non-payment of taxes on emoluments of all health workers for the next 3 months; 50% basic salary as allowance to all Frontline health workers; and provision of buses to convey health workers for free.
“We are in difficult times, and that is why I directed the Minister for Finance to send to Parliament the Coronavirus Alleviation Programme (CAP), whose objective is to protect households and livelihoods, support micro, small, and medium-sized businesses, minimize job losses, and source additional funding for promotion of industries to shore up and expand industrial output for domestic consumption and exports, the President of Ghana noted.
Through this Programme, the President said, the Ministries of Gender, Children and Social Protection and Local Government and Rural Development, and the National Disaster Management Organization (NADMO), working with Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs) and the Faith-Based Organisations including the Catholic Church, have begun to provide food for up to four hundred thousand (400,000) individuals and homes in the affected areas of the restrictions. This begun in Accra on April 5, and begun in Kumasi on April 6. It will come in the form of dry food packages and hot meals, and will be delivered to vulnerable communities in Accra, Tema, Kumasi and Kasoa.
President Akufo Addo added: “Government, in collaboration with the National Board for Small Scale Industries (NBSSI), Business & Trade Associations and selected Commercial and Rural Banks, will roll out a soft loan scheme up to a total of six hundred million cedis (GH¢600 million), which will have a one-year moratorium and two-year repayment period for micro, small and medium scale businesses.
In reaction to the President’s intervention, Mr. Akologo said “That is exactly what good Generals do in wartime situation, like what we are faced with now. In this way, I am confident that the main Men and Women at the frontiers of this war (Health, Allied Health & Security Agencies), will indeed take ownership of the victory in yonder and surge forward for the crown of victory over Covid 19.”
In the view of the Caritas Executive Secretary “the general reliefs in taxes, critical services of water and electricity, and flexibilities in loan repayments must be welcomed by Ghanaians, adding that “it is now for the Local Government Authorities and Ministries, Departments and Agencies, and Financial institutions to make these reliefs happen in effect.”
According to him by the President’s pronouncement, these have become effectively short term public policies to which citizens need to make legitimate demands for but stressed that “there must be independent monitoring mechanisms to ensure that the reliefs actually reach their specific targets.”
“So it is not enough to appreciate the President for his sterling leadership so far, but even more important to play an active role that will give effect to these short term policy articulations,” he indicated.
“As of 10 April 2020, 23:00 HRS, a total of 27,346 persons have been tested with 408 being positive for COVID-19,” said the GHS.
Out of the 408 confirmed COVID-19 cases, 205 were reported from the routine surveillance, 88 from enhanced surveillance activities and 115 from travellers under mandatory quarantine in both Accra and Tamale.
