Publish coronavirus campaign guidelines – STRANEK-Africa to political parties

Civil Society Group STRANEK-Africa has called on political parties to publish their COVID-19 campaign guidelines to check the spread of the virus in the heat of their campaign.

According to a press release issued by STRANEK-Africa, apart from the fact that elections are barely two months away and for that matter campaign is getting heated, the lives of Ghanaians are also at stake and so efforts of disseminating messages of COVID-19 campaign guidelines must continue to keep Ghanaians safe from the virus.

"Coronavirus still lingers but that hasn’t stop politicians from engaging in an open campaign defying health protocols on the grounds," the statement read.

STRANEK in its statement also asked politicians to be guarded by a possible resurgence of the virus as COVID-19 has not left us entirely.

It advised the political parties to do more of virtual campaign amidst the pandemic.

Below is the full statement

PUBLISH YOUR COVID-19 CAMPAIGN GUIDELINES-STRANEK-AFRICA TO POLITICAL PARTIES

In as much as this year is an important year for Ghanaians to decide which political party deserves the mandate to steer affairs of this country, we must be reminded that the pandemic COVID-19 has not left us entirely and has caused countries like United Kingdom, India, Czech Republic, France, Spain and the likes to go back to a partial lockdown.

There has been vigorous crusade by various stakeholders in Ghana asking people to observe the COVID-19 protocols (wearing nose mask, observing social distancing, regular washing of hands among others) in order to mitigate the spread of the virus. However, per our observation from the time campaign started, some of our political actors and their sympathisers or members of the parties’ mass up across the country to follow these actors in defiance of the COVID-19 protocols.

Even though all the political parties are striving hard to catch the attention of partisans, STRANEK-Africa calls on them to publish their COVID-19 campaign guidelines in order not to have the spread of the virus in the heat of their campaign. We suggest the COVID-19 campaign guidelines should contain how we can avoid or reduce the risk of crowding during their activities. Building entry and exit protocol to avoid large number of people in closed spaces. Campaign billboards, posters, banners should include measures of COVID-19. During door to door campaign, the various structures in the parties – constituencies, polling stations and electoral areas executives must not involve more than five people in a campaign group. The political parties must also do more of virtual campaign. The message spread should involve how we can get rid of this pandemic.

Albeit the fact that we have barely two months to elections and for that matter, campaign is getting heated, the lives of Ghanaians are at stake and so efforts of disseminating messages of COVID-19 campaign guidelines must continue to keep Ghanaians safe from the virus.

Indeed, let us all get involve in building our nation.

Signed.

Nii Tettey Tetteh

Executive Director

+233 559 042 914