Stop the distribution of food or risk recording more COVID-19 cases

His Excellency, President Nana Addo-Dankwa Akuffo Addo in one of his addresses to the Nation on Corona-virus Disease, (COVID-19) indicated that some 400,000 needy Ghanaians will be fed during the current lockdown.

The Finance Minister subsequently presented to Parliament an estimate of GHC40million for the feeding exercise. It is also reported in the media that the National Disaster Management Organization (NADMO) spends GHC2million every day for feeding the estimated 400,000 Ghanaians.

Mr. President, it is now a public knowledge that state resources are been used to feed political party members of both the ruling NPP and the opposition NDC for the advancement of their political agenda. Some political officials are seriously taking advantage over the situation to make it seem as if they are the ones serving the people from their pockets just to score cheap politics.

I want to prioritize the dangers of the style of feeding which is direr and pressing compared to the stealing of the public purse, for now. Fellow Ghanaians, we have witnessed the overcrowding of innocent citizens expecting to be fed in many areas like Asokwa in Kumasi where people are overcrowded just to receive food. So what problem has this shambolic feeding solved apart from the compounding spread of the deadly COVID-19? Fellow Ghanaians, let's all rise up to condemn this unpatriotic and self-seeking acts officials and party officers across the political divide With this major challenge and time bomb starring at us, the usual hypocrisy of our Moral Society is at play. As a Concerned Citizen, I cringe to these uncomfortable scenes while many look on to the over politicization and haphazard means of the distribution of the food.

Mr. President, in order not to worsen the situation and facilitate the quick spread of the disease through the free distribution of food to poor citizens due to the lockdown, it will be prudent to adopt more proactive measures and crowd-free methods in the food distribution.

For instance Mr. President, raw food can be given to citizens who are considered to be poor in this case to prepare it by themselves. Mr. President, this can be done by adopting the National Population Census method of conducting population census through the use of the district assemblies and they will in turn use the various electoral areas in the food distribution. This I believe will be more conducive and help avoid overcrowding just as we have seen in some areas over the period since the exercise began.

Whilst I agree that there is the urgent need for the distribution of food to the most vulnerable in our communities, the purpose is gravely defeated by the lack of observing social distancing which can, obviously will cause the increase of COVID 19.

I think it is about time we start telling our political leaders especially the truth in the face for them to get more serious in their effort to fighting this global pandemic. The President cannot give directives for the citizens to adhere to by observing social distancing while political party officials act contrary to his directives with impunity!

This virus knows not royals, pastors, Members of Parliament, or ordinary citizens so let us stop the unnecessary HYPOCRISY, political advantage, political incumbency advantage and fight the common enemy which is the coronavirus with a clean heart and mind.

Mr. President, we cannot afford to toy with our precious lives and waste taxpayers looking at the amount being spent per a day according to NADMO and overcrowd to receive food during the food distribution exercise and be infected with the disease we are all guarding against. It is for this particular reason that, I am calling for a halt in the distribution of food to the vulnerable people in our communities till a more appropriate means has been adopted to ensure that indeed social distancing is being observed to avoid recording more COVID19 cases in the country.

Thank you.