Directive on compulsory use of face masks invalid – ChaLoG to REGSEC

The Chamber for Local Governance (ChaLoG) says the Greater Accra Regional Security Council’s (REGSEC) directive on compulsory wearing of face masks is invalid and unenforceable.

The Greater Accra Regional Security Council (REGSEC) has made the wearing of face masks mandatory, without which one cannot freely roam about to transact business or pursue some other activities in the region.

The decision by the Council was taken at its emergency meeting held on Wednesday, April 22, 2020.

A statement signed and released by the Regional Minister, Ismael Ashitey, announcing the directive, said the move is to ensure compliance with the President’s directives on social distancing and the wearing of face masks protocols.

“At its emergency meeting held on Wednesday, April 22, 2020, to ensure compliance with the President’s directives on social distancing and wearing of face masks, the Greater Accra Regional Security (REGSEC) agreed on mandatory wearing of face masks in the Greater Accra Region by the general public”, the statement read in part.

But the Chamber in a Press statement argued that REGSEC is not clothed with such powers to make it legally binding on Ghanaians with regards to the mandatory wearing of face masks.

“In the view of ChaLoG, the REGSEC should have just made a recommendation to all the MMDAs in the region to take appropriate steps to see to the enforcement of such directives which would have simply allowed the MMDAs to enact tailor-made by-laws to see to its enforcement and not the REGSEC issuing such a blanket directive which is to take immediate effect without the corresponding legal backing by way of a by-law,” the Chamber said in its Press Statement.