Coronavirus: Calls for total lockdown 'empty propaganda and noise' - Koku Anyidoho

Former Deputy General Secretary for the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Koku Anyidoho, has described calls for a total lockdown as “empty propaganda and noise”.

The NDC stalwart however stopped short of singling out anyone for criticism.

But it is on record that both the Trade Union Congress (TUC), the Ghana Medical Association and other notable individuals called and are still calling for a total lockdown of the country to contain the spread of the ravaging coronavirus pandemic in the country.

The President of the Republic of Ghana, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo on Friday, March 27 announced a partial lockdown of Greater Accra, Kasoa, Tema and Greater Kumasi as part of measures to contain the spread of the pandemic.

The measures took effect on Monday, 30th March, at 1 am. Though essential service providers and personnel are exempted from the restrictions on movement, some Ghanaians have taken advantage of that to step out of their homes and mingle with others, thus defeating the intended purpose the partial lockdown.

This has led to calls for government to completely lockdown the entire country or the epicentres of the COVID-19.

Reacting to such calls on Okay FM’s Ade Akye Abia Morning Show, Koku Anyidoho reiterated that they are simply borne out of panic, empty propaganda and noise without scientific data.

“Something that he [the President] said yesterday that I was happy was that, going forward every decision that I will take will be based on science, meaning based on data, research-driven and not empty propaganda and noise . .

“ . . those people who are calling for full lockdown, on what statistics are they basing their call on? Total lockdown based on what data? Because people are locked down in the USA and UK and so there should be lockdown in Ghana? Do we have the same circumstance in those countries they are comparing us to?” he quizzed.



To him, President Akufo-Addo’s comment on science shows that he is not making panic-driven decisions for the country in the midst of the novel coronavirus.

“ . . So, this is not the time for the President to panic and so far he has proven that he is not going to panic . . . he has shown us the way forward and added that this week is crucial . . . he is not talking out of a vaccum.”

“People want the President to copy blindly to shut the country down out of fear and panic as it has happened in other countries. I support the President 100 per cent for not panicking and going for total lockdown; it is gradual process,” he mentioned.