North East Region NDC accuses minister of ‘sleeping’ over coronavirus fight

The North East Regional branch of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) has accused the Regional Coordinating Council and the Regional Minister of doing little to sensitize the people of the region on the novel Corona Virus.

According to the party, the Regional Minister Solomon Boar is hardly seen or heard taking actions to combat the spread of the virus in the newly created region.

“It is therefore, not surprising, seeing citizens in the region still go about with the normal social engagements, some oblivious of the social distancing protocols and most unaware of this beastly covid19. This should bring the North East Region Minister from his hideout since very less is seen and heard from the RCC down to MDA’s,” a statement signed the Regional Communications Officer Imoro Abdul-Razak said.

In the assertions of the party, the region is exposed to high risk of Coronavirus spread following the influx of hundreds of relatives from the locked down cities without any measure to check them and quarantine them for 14 days before allowing them associate with their families.

They added that “The recent influx of our brothers and sisters (Kayaye) from Accra and Kumasi appears to have exposed our Ill or no preparedness toward the combat of the novel coronavirus in the North East Region.

A dozen of buses came into the Region with our town and village folks ahead of the date announced for the lockdown of Greater Accra and Greater Kumasi with no critical medical examination conducted, and interestingly, no record has been taken for contact tracing purposes.

These has raised eyebrows and are serious matters of concern for all.

Citizens had expected quarantine centers to be put up in the various Municipal and District capitals to quarantine them (Kayaaye) for the Fourteen days period, before they were allowed to socialized with their families for purposes of safety and fear of community transfers.

Whereas, our Traditional leadership could have helped in that score, the uncoordinated nature of the activities geared towards the fight of the Coronavirus in the Region spearheaded by the Regional Minister is worrisome and problematic.

The Traditional Leadership Marshaled by the Nayiri (The King of Mamprugu) could have provided strong base of leadership to prevent our folks from Accra and Kumasi from socializing with their people until the 14 days period is over and done with as it happened in other parts in the North.”

The opposition party further accused the Member of Parliament for Nalerigu who doubles as Local Government and Rural Development Minister Hajia Alima Mahama and the Regional Minister of engaging in power play to the detriment of the safety of the region in times if Corona Virus fight.