In his third address to Ghanaians on measures his Government is taking to limit the importation and spread of the novel coronavirus in the country, President Akufo-Addo stressed that “We must do everything within our power to contain the spread of the virus.” The president called for maintenance of strict self-discipline, social distancing and enhanced protocols in our daily lives.
With confirmed coronavirus cases in Ghana now in the twenties with a recorded death, it cannot be overemphasized that all that can be done, ought to be done by everyone and every institution to make the Covid-19 disease history, with minimal costs and losses.
Announcing the enhanced measures in his eight-minute address on Saturday, President Akufo-Addo was deeply humbled by the widespread support from all Ghanaians for the measures he has taken so far. He applauded the efforts of retired health professionals, entrepreneurs, health workers, immigration officials, customs officials, civil aviation officials, airport staff, port health officials, police and military personnel and other essential service providers for the yeoman’s job they’re doing. The very crucial public education and information dissemination role of the media cannot be taken lightly nor discounted.
The President also commended both sides of Parliament for the expeditious and responsible manner in which they handled the passage of the Imposition of Restrictions Act to which he has given accent. He appealed to all Ghanaians – Christians and Muslims – to observe a National Day of Fasting and Prayer on Wednesday, March 25, 2020 to seek the face of God to intervene in this pandemic and heal our land.
We are indeed living through historic moments and this is not a time to play the responses of medicine and science against the power and omnipotence of a Living God, as some are doing. Accordingly, the President thanked the Men and Women of God who prayed with him at the Jubilee House last Thursday, and with the Vice-President, Dr. Mahamadu Bawumia, on Friday.
While asserting that the cases of localised infection required strict self-discipline, the President pleaded with all to continue washing hands regularly, to use alcohol-based hand sanitizers, stop shaking hands and avoid unnecessary close body contacts. “Our survival is in our own hands,” he charged.
As figurative as this statement is, it also means exactly what it says. This is because, according to the World Health Organisation, our hands and the things they touch, in transmission to our faces, especially to our eyes, mouths and noses, are responsible for a very high percentage of the indirect spread of the virus.
This clarion call by the First Gentleman of the Land is reminiscent of the signal sent by the legendary leader of the Royal Navy, Horatio Nelson, that turned the tide and won the famous Battle of Trafalgar, that is, “England expects that every man will do his duty.”
This time, it is all humanity that is currently in battle. We’re literally caught in a fight for the very survival of the entire human race; and every elderly or adult man or woman, youth and child has no choice but to do his or her duty in sticking strictly to the prescribed hygiene protocols and prayer as this desperate situation requires.
Billionaire founder of Microsoft Corporation, Bill Gates, who remarkably predicted the rise and scourge of the coronavirus as far back as 2015, also prescribed fighting it like war.
Mankind is no stranger to war or conflict. Wars of all kinds – for just or unjust reasons – have been fought since the dawn of time. In the last century, two world wars have rocked the planet, followed by a protracted Cold War. But here, it is the austerity and strict discipline in times of conflict, and not the destructive aspects, that are being championed. We must fight this ominous threat to the best of human civilization as we know it, tooth and nail and with every drop of blood in us.
Paraphrasing a former British Prime Minister and leader during the Second World War, Sir Winston Churchill, we must brace ourselves and do our duty, so that when we finally halt the abominable march of this vicious virus and effectively defeat it, all Creation would rise up and say, this decisive moment in history was the finest hour for the resilience and resolve of a human race graced and galvanized by an omniscient God, strong and mighty in battle.
Source: Raymond Tuvi
(Author and Media Consultant) | rtuvi2000@yahoo.com| March 23, 2020 | AMDG
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