TUC hails decision to ease restrictions on movement

Dr Anthony Yaw Baah, the Secretary-General of the Trades Union Congress (TUC), has applauded government’s decision of lifting the three-week restriction on the movement of people in Accra, Kumasi, Tema and Kasoa.

He said though the restrictions yielded some positive results, the decision to ease the partial lockdown "was the right thing to do".

Dr Baah said this during discussions with President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo at the Jubilee House in Accra on measures to combat the spread of the COVID-19 in the country.

He commended the President for the excellent leadership since the disease broke out last month in Ghana, saying his swift and decisive actions had saved the country from the horrible spectacle being witnessed elsewhere in the world.

“Yesterday, you eased some of these restrictions and emphasised that some of these restrictions must be complied with strictly. We think it is the right thing to do, given the dire economic consequences of prolonged restriction,” he stated.

President Akufo-Addo Sunday, April 19, 2020, lifted the restrictions on movements placed on inhabitants of Accra, Kumasi, Tema and Kasoa to enable government to ramp up the tracing, testing and treatment of persons who had come in contact with those infected with the disease.

However, all other measures to contain the disease, including the ban on public gathering, religious and social activities, closure of borders, observance of social and physical distancing, and protocols on handwashing and hygiene are still in force.

Ghana's case count as at April 19 stood at 1,042, with 99 recoveries and nine deaths from a total testing sample of 68,591.

Dr Baah noted that the restrictions had affected many businesses and had it not been eased, many people would have lost their jobs as a result.

He urged the public to support the Government fight the disease, adding; “The fight of this coronavirus is a shared responsibility. We think you and your government are doing what is expected of you."

"It is time for us Ghanaians to do our part as individuals by observing the safety protocols that will protect us and others from this deadly virus.”

Dr Baah commended the health workers and other frontline workers for providing essential services during the partial lockdown.

“You risk your lives every day to protect the rest of us. You have made us very proud as workers’ leaders and so we pray that God blesses you abundantly," he said.

Dr Yaw Baah also commended Government for the incentive packages for health workers to push them to work diligently as the country battled the COVID-19 pandemic.

He urged all local branch divisions and national unions to work with their employers to ensure strict compliance with the various protocols in the fight against the virus.

“The working people of Ghana, will continue to play a role in the effort to restore growth to our economy so that businesses will flourish once again," he assured the President.

President Akufo-Addo told the Union Executives that the easing of the restriction on movement was based on data, science and a careful balance of factors.

He called on the public to continue to observe the measures to enable government to deal effectively with the pandemic.