The Coalition of University Students have called on government to suspend mass registration exercise of Ghana Card in order to prevent possible contraction and spread of the deadly Corona Virus.
It would be recalled that the exercise began in the nation’s capital in April 2019 and meandered its way through the Volta, Oti, Northern, Upper East and West, Savannah and the Ashanti regions.
Currently, the exercise is taking place in the Eastern region where citizens are enthusiastically thronging registration centers to be registered.
In a statement by the Coalition, it noticed that in terms of geographical proximity, the Eastern Region is not far from Togo, a Corona Virus infected country as Ghana’s neighbor to the east.
“The crowdy nature of the mass registration exercise calls for this passionate appeal to government. We the Coalition of University Students presume it was not for nothing government decided to pause all international travels for appointees: For the safety of Ghanaians,” the Coalition stated.
Below is a statement by the Coalition:
In the interest of both Ghanaian citizens and denizens, we call on government as a matter of urgency and responsibility to discontinue with the ongoing Ghana Card mass registration exercise with immediate effect due to the deadly Corona virus that has finally found its way to the Sub Saharan Africa.
It would be recalled that the exercise began in the nation’s capital in April 2019 and meandered its way through the Volta, Oti, Northern, Upper East and West, Savannah and the Ashanti regions. It is currently taking place in the Eastern region where citizens are enthusiastically thronging registration centers to be registered. In terms of geographical proximity, the Eastern Region is not far from Togo, a Corona Virus infected country as Ghana’s neighbor to the east.
Experience over the years has shown that majority of foreign nationals from neighboring countries usually troop into the country to unlawfully participate in Ghana’s voters registration exercises like the ongoing Ghana Card mass registration. Usually, this is done by over ambitious political parties in the country in order to influence the outcome of elections.
It’s our striking fear that, out of an attempt by foreign nationals to illegally participate in the ongoing Ghana Card registration exercise, the deadly virus could be carried into the country.
So far, the sixth country in the Subregion, Burkina Faso, has been affected and infected. Two cases of the deadly Covid – 19 have been confirmed and recorded in Burkina Faso as at yesterday March 10.
Earlier, Nigeria, Senegal, Togo, Cameron, South Africa, Dr. Congo, among others, had their fatal share of the plague.
The Health Minister of Kenya, Mutahi Kagwa, for example, says “Kenya have deployed more than 1,000 health workers to Jomo Kenyatta International Airport and other areas and the Kenyan government has banned international meetings and events for 30 days.”
As future leaders of this country, we believe government of Ghana can borrow a leaf from the Kenyan government’s example by not only placing ban on international gathering alone, but must include avoidable national gatherings for the mean time such as the ongoing Ghana Card registration exercise.
What the Catholic Bishops have done, for instance, is a giant leap in the right direction by outlawing handshakes and communion taken by mouth.
Although the Ghana Health Service has instituted a mass screening exercise as a welcome for all entrants into the country, prevention is always better than cure.
Moreover, due to the porous nature of our borders, irrespective of the measures taken by the Ghana Health Service, Ghana is still very prone to contracting the virus through the illegal routes usually used by illegal migrants into the country.
That means, for all we know, the virus might have been “illegally” “smuggled” and imported into the country already by some Ghanaian smuggler or that of the fraudulent trader from any of our neighboring countries who could have used any of the “backdoors” into the country.
In that case, no amount of screening of immigrants can protect and prevent Ghana in any dramatic way. What we need to do is to recoil back into our shells and avoid any situation of our own creation that can possibly spread the virus if it has already been “smuggled” into the country.
Therefore, as part of measures to provide modest protection for Ghanaians, we the Coalition of University Students believe it is only appropriate to halt any exercise within the country that could bring about a possible contraction and spread of the virus.
As a result of the obviously teething problems associated with the mass registration exercise of the Ghana Card that are potential agents of the infection and spread of the virus, we suggest it would be in the best interest of Ghanaians if authorities could, as part of taking precautions, hold in abeyance, the Ghana Card mass registration exercise until further notice.
The crowdy nature of the mass registration exercise calls for this passionate appeal to government. We the Coalition of University Students presume it was not for nothing government decided to pause all international travels for appointees: For the safety of Ghanaians.
As of today, March 11, 2020, the virus has infected 104 countries.
Our elders say if your neighbor’s beard is on fire, you must sufficiently moist or wet yours before running to his aid in order to extinguish his beard’s fire.
It is our earnest hope and belief that the National Identification Authority and the Government of Ghana, will as a matter of necessity and urgency heed to our call.
*Signed*
*Ebenezer Assan*
*Convenor*
0593835086
*MAHMUD ABDUL WALIU KABORE*
0542305165
*(P.R.O)*
KNUST
*Idrisu Abdul Hakeem*
0557762967
*Dept. P.R.O ( ONLY ENGLISH)*
KNUST.
*Ebenezer Amoah Affedzie*
*(Member)*
*KNUST*
*0543084507*
*Issaka Issifu*
*(Member)*
*ATU*
*0548564049*
*Mohammed Seidu*
*(Member)*
*UENR*
[12/03, 06:47] +233 55 747 0870: _Immediate Release_
Thursday, 12th March, 2020.
Ghana| Atinkaonline.com
