Dr. Apaak worried over shortage of sanitizers, face masks

The Member of Parliament for Builsa South, Dr. Clement Apaak has raised concerns over the shortage of hand sanitizers and face masks in the face of the confirmed cases in Ghana.

The legislator in a post indicated that he was shocking told in Bolga by a chemist that some individuals had bought his stocks and exported them to Italy and China.

“But, one chemist's shop attendant made a shocking revelation that I believe must occupy our attention. The attendant told me that the products were procured from his shop and exported/shipped/flown to Italy! I was shocked beyond belief.”

He was worried some Ghanaians are taking undue advantage of the situation to sell the products at exorbitant prices.

“Clearly, the urge to make money at all cost, greed, is rendering many of us vulnerable in the face of the coronavirus.”

He recounted how his wife had to roam fruitlessly without getting any sanitizer and face mask to buy in Accra.

He has therefore admonished the government to take steps to ensure that we get more sanitizers and face masks for the public to buy.

“Government must make essential supplies such as face masks and hand sanitizers available without delay. As well, anyone found sending these products outside Ghana must be severely sanctioned.”



Read below his full post

Coronavirus – Folks, is Ghana out of hand sanitizers and face masks! Greetings from the Upper East Region, where I’ve been since Monday.

In the wake of the confirmed cases of the coronavirus by official government sources, and the now obvious fact that the deadly virus has been in Ghana even before the 63rd independence day celebration, I asked my wife to procure hand sanitizers in Accra, the East Legon area.

Guess what, madam combed several chemists stores but was told at every one of them that they were out of hand sanitizers. Requests for face masks also yielded no positive outcome.

Upon informing me of her fruitless efforts, I decided to try my luck in Bolga, my regional capital. On arriving in Bolga from my holy village of Doninga in the Builsa South District at about 2pm, I headed out in search of face masks and/or hand sanitizers. I visited six chemists shopes, and at each of them, I was told they were out of these now sort after products.

But, one chemists shop attendant made a shocking revelation that I believe must occupy our attention. The attendant told me that the products were procured from his shop and exported/shipped/flown to Italy! I was shocked beyond belief.

Clearly, the urge to make money at all cost, greed, is rendering many of us vulnerable in the face of the coronavirus.

Did we, Ghanaians, truly believe we were impervious to this virus and so shipped these essential supplies to China, Italy etc to make money? Well, now we are desperately seeking the supplies we shipped off and may pay more and dearly for our greed.

Government must make essential supplies such as face masks and hand sanitizers available without delay. As well, anyone found sending these products outside Ghana must be severely sanctioned.

I may be wrong, but I think Ghana is out of hand sanitizers and face masks. We will have to improvise while we wait for the outcome of the delayed government action.

God save our homeland Ghana!

I remain a citizen.

Dr. Clement Apaak

M.P, Builsa South