Coronavirus: MOFA advises Ghanaians to adhere to restrictions

Mr James Adu, the Techiman Municipal Director of Agriculture has advised Ghanaians to comply with the restrictions on the Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) to stem its spread.

He said national figures on the deadly disease were worrying, saying any lockdown again being partial or total would definitely affect food security as well.

Speaking at a day’s training workshop on the COVID-19 control for Agriculture Extension Officers (AEOs) held at Techiman in the Bono East Region, Mr. Adu appealed to government to support farmers to produce more in this COVID-19 season.

The Peasant Farmers Association of Ghana (PFAG) with support from the Ghana Health Service (GHS) organised the workshop which exposed the participants to the history, mode of transmission, early signs and symptoms of the COVID-19.

Mr Adu explained Ghanaians were currently consuming food produced by farmers in the last crop season, and it would be suicidal if there was any lockdown.

This is because if the COVID-19 was not brought under control and necessitated another lockdown, farmers would not be able to plant in the major crop season, which is definitely going to jeopardize national food security in 2021, he stated.

Mr. Adu lauded government’s commitment towards fighting the deadly pandemic, but, insisted it would require concerted approach and decisive measures to control it.

This is why Ghanaians must adhere to the social distancing protocols, handwashing with soap under running water, as well as the frequent use of hand sanitizers, he emphasised.

Mr. Charles Nyaaba, the Head of Programmes and Advocacy of the PFAG, observed the AEOs were somehow front-liners in the fight, hence the need to train them to sensitize farmers in the communities.

This would go a long way to empower rural farmers, position them well to protect themselves from contracting the disease to enhance national food security, he said.

The PFAG later presented Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) comprising quantities of hand sanitizers, washing bowls, veronica buckets, nose masks and dust bins to the participants.