Coronavirus: Akufo-Addo must be directly involved in these ‘dangerous times’ - Franklin Cudjoe

President and Chief Executive of IMANI Ghana Franklin Cudjoe says considering how leaders of various countries are responding to the global outbreak of the coronavirus (COVID-19), he sees it prudent that the government of Ghana will notch up its effort in preventing the disease from reaching Ghana and to also step up its intervention measures should the disease reach the country.

Speaking in an interview with GhanaWeb, Mr Cudjoe said even though the government together with the Ministry of Health is making some interventions, it is important at this point for President Akufo-Addo to be at the forefront of the nation’s response to the situation.

“I want it to be taken a notch higher, I like the president to be directly involved. Other colleagues of his around the world have rolled up their sleeves and they are not just talking. We have a situation that can easily be described as a war room situation and we want to be hearing these kinds of updates from the president. The Ministry of Health may surpass but I think this are dangerous times and it calls for a much coordinated efforts, we don’t want a conservative approach to dealing with this virus at all and we shouldn’t be acting as if we have to wait for it to hit us before we are seen to be acting,” he noted.

According to a World Health Organisation report, Ghana is classified among Priority 1 countries in WHO Africa Region for being at risk based on flights and passenger volumes. In the same report, instead of the initial GHC2.5 million released by government, Ghana needs around GHC35 million to be fully prepared to manage an outbreak.

Reacting to report, Franklin Cudjoe said since the GHC35 million mentioned by the WHO may not necessarily be needed at a go, it is important that the initial amount of GHC2.5 released by government is reviewed in lieu of current developments.

“I guess these are figures that has been estimated for us, if the use has not been arranged, I don’t think we should be spending the entire GHC35 million. I think the GHC2.5 million committed to it already must be reviewed and if we need some additional money then we can draw from the GHC35million that has been set aside.”

He said there is the need for the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Information to engage in educating and sensitising citizens about the disease in order to minimise its impact should it be recorded in the country. Additionally, he urged the presidency to conduct periodical updates on its efforts in managing situations related to the CODVID-19 disease.

Underscoring the need for public education, Franklin Cudjoe mentioned that the problems posed by the coronavirus reaching Ghana especially in an election year makes it more necessary that the Ghanaian public remains updated and informed about the virus.