President Akufo Addo on August 16, gave his 15th update on the measures taken to reduce the spread of Covid-19 while easing restrictions in phases.
The President noted, ” I know that the pandemic has adversely affected many lives and livelihoods. It is for this reason that Government has implemented several measures such as free water and electricity, and funding to support small businesses, and tax reliefs, amongst others, to cushion the effect of the pandemic.”
According to him, these interventions are not freebies but rather critical care for Ghanaians in a difficult time.
“We are not providing freebies, we are providing critical help to households, families and businesses, in the midst of this pandemic, because we care. It is my conviction that, in times of crises, it is the duty of a responsible and sensitive Government to protect the population, and provide relief,” he said.
This comes after former President John Dramani Mahama slammed the Akufo Addo led government for providing freebies to the Ghanaian people instead of empowering citizens to provide self care.
Mahama chided, “If you say everybody should stay at home and we will give you everything free, free; free this, free that, all the countries that have developed, they didn’t develop like that”.
President Akufo Addo urged Ghanaians to continue to adhere to the Covid-19 safety protocols while life continues to return to normal gradually.
“Fellow Ghanaians, let us remember at all times that this phased opening up of our country continues to put an obligation and responsibility on each one of us to remain vigilant, and respect the enhanced hygiene, mask wearing and social distancing protocols that have become part and parcel of our daily routine. They are proving to be effective, so let us employ them wholeheartedly. That is the way we can restore, as quickly as possible, the blessings of normalcy for which we all yearn. There is no room for complacency, we must be very much on our guard, because some countries have experienced spikes after recording major achievements in containing the spread of the virus. We should not go down that road. Social distancing, enhanced hygiene and wearing of masks are obligatory for each one of us.”
Source: GhanaFeed.com