Dear lockdown advocates, I initially felt unconcerned on the subject of lockdown now or later, but I changed my mind due to what I am reading on our social media platforms particularly facebook and how shocking the number of advocates are multiplying.
I must first admit that this discussion is borne out of sincerity and our love for mother Ghana, nothing personal or emotional about this debate.
Wikipedia online defines a lockdown as an emergency protocol that usually prevents people or information from leaving an area. It further adds that, full (total) lockdown usually means that people must stay where they are and may not enter or exit a building or rooms within said a building. If people are in a hallway, they should go to the nearest safe, enclosed room. Inferring from the definition, we can all agree that Ghana is already on certain kind of lockdown because schools are closed and students are not allowed there etc.
Enormous progress has been made in responding to the coronavirus pandemic internally and internationally. However, more needs to be done in order to understand
the social repercussions that the measures taken or to be taken have on citizenry and their well-being.
Let’s us now avert our minds to some staggering statistics and how lockdown will impact us. But we should also note that the impact of a lockdown will depend on how extensive it is and the period concerned.
All my statistics are coming from the Ghana Living Standards Survey (GLSS 7) compiled by the Ghana Statistical Service, the mandated body for collection of statistics for our country.
Over 6.8 million persons were
deemed poor in Ghana in 2016/17, about half a million are from the Upper West Region (574,794.9), while the Northern Region with a poverty incidence of 61.1 percent accounts for one-fifth (20.8 percent) or 1.8 million of the poor in Ghana, making this region the highest single
contributor to the number of poor persons in Ghana. And with a lockdown, the number is expected to double because businesses both private and public except essentials like medicine and food etc will be closed. Restaurants and bars will be expected to offer take-away services if they are to operate. The over 2.4 million people are in abject poverty and depend on others for survival are most likely to be affected much than the middle class.
Percentage of households using flush or KVIP toilet by region in 2016/17, only 13 percent of households in Upper East region had access to flush or KVIP toilet, Upper West 25%, Northern region 36% etc.
35.7% of households across the country using public toilet. 19% of households across the country resort to open defecation. With a shocking 81% of Ghanaians lacking access to improved sanitation or are entirely without toilet facilities. How would all these people ease themselves during a total lockdown where stepping out of their homes will not be tolerated?
It is an undeniable fact that millions of Ghanaians rely solely on surface water to meet their daily water needs and wells are mostly used in the North as a source of drinking water for majority of our people so what happens during a lockdown? Can government afford to distribute food and water to approximately 6 million people in Ghana?
Dear advocates of lockdown, I have put this forward not to downplay the role of a possible lockdown in the containment of covid-19 but rather highlight some effects of such an action on the lives of the ordinary Ghanaian. Let’s remain calm and optimistic that, this, too, shall pass.
It is my prayer and hope that the interest of the nation will guide our decision. Nonetheless, let us continue to practice regular hand washing, social distancing and community education as little contribution to the fight against covid-19.
I end with this, “If prolonged, the shutdowns will lead to business failures and layoffs, exacerbating the economic downturn,” said Dr Yeah, who is an economics professor at the Sunway Universiti Business School.
May God grant our leaders the grace to take us through these turbulent times successfully.
Written by: Issah Toha Shamsoo
