Coronavirus: Arrest, prosecute and fine citizens who flout lockdown directives – MAC

Pressure group, Mass Action Committee (MAC) is calling on government to ensure that members of the public who deliberately disregard lockdown measures initiated this week, face the full rigours of the law.

The group is however unenthused by reports of some security officers abusing citizens for flouting the lockdown directives announced by the president.

MAC, in a statement issued on Thursday and signed by its Executive Secretary, Atik Mohammed condemned the act and described it as “unacceptable”.

"This trend of affairs is objectionable and we condemn it in the strongest words possible," the statement read.

As part of measures to prevent further spread of the deadly Coronavirus, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo announced a two-week restriction on movement within the Kasoa township, Greater Accra Region and Greater Kumasi, as well as some municipalities in the Ashanti Region, effective 1 am on Monday, March 30, 2020.

Essential service providers and some other business enterprises have been exempted from the lockdown.

Some Ghanaians flouted the lockdown directive and were seen going about their duties as in normal times.

Their action resulted in the some members of the joint police-military team enforcing the lockdown to unleash mayhem on them.

Some section of the public have openly spoken against the conduct of these uniformed personnel; not excluding the MAC.

But while the pressure group is warning against abusing human rights in the name of fighting COVID-19, it also called for the application of the relevant laws against anyone who flouts the lockdown rules.

“Our view, therefore, is that, culprits must be arrested and prosecuted in accordance with the law. When they are found guilty, we admonish that, the courts be prayed to exact only the penalty of fines in lieu of imprisonment given the COVID 19 situation. We further suggest that an escrow account be created for these fines so that, they can be used specifically to support the government’s anti-corona efforts," portions of the MAC statement read.