Coronavirus: Discuss lockdown thoroughly – Bopkin

Economist, Professor Godfred Bopkin, has asked the government of Ghana to engage in broad discussions before considering a lockdown of any part of the country in the midst of the coronavirus outbreak in Ghana.

He said although the country is faced with a serious situation as other parts of the world regarding the COVID-19, the government must act tactfully in its decisions.

Ghana has so far recorded 136 cases of coronavirus with three deaths.

Groups including the Ghana Medical Association (GMA) have asked the government to lock down the country to mitigate spread.

Prof Bokpin told journalists in Accra: “Unusual times call for unusual measures. For that reason, the discussion of our debts, though relevant, we have to understand that the country is facing critical challenges that require us to think beyond the normal situation of debt-to-GDP ratio.”

On the lockdown issue, he said: “A lot of conversation must go on to fill the gaps before such conversations start.”