Caritas Ghana Still Committed to the Poor as President Lifts Partial Ban

Additionally, the spread of the virus in the areas now allowed to operate normally has been contained, the President noted.

In a televised national address to the nation, the Head of State said the three-week lockdown has achieved its objectives, among which was the need to scale up tracing and testing people who may have come into contact with those who had already tested positive.

Reacting to the decision by the President to lift the partial lockdown, Caritas Ghana Executive Secretary, in an interview with ACI Africa correspondent, expressed concerns that the move was bound to raise anxiety among the people, noting that infections with the virus were on the rise.

“I will perfectly understand if there are any apprehensions and anxiety around the lifting of the lockdown especially given that the number of cases continue to rise and there is also spreading of the virus to other regions,” the Executive Secretary, Zan Akologo told ACI Africa April 20.

He added, “Even in the lockdown environment, we still witnessed some deviant behaviors that exposed others and themselves to risk. The President cannot micromanage individual behaviors; he uses public policy instruments to define the parameters of public life within a certain specific context. It is then also our collective civic responsibility to respect and abide by these guidelines.”

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Zan Akologo advised Ghanaians especially Catholics to continue to heed the precautions and safety measures, contributing to spreading hope and goodness that assuage people's fears.

He further noted that in addition to the vulnerable people affected by the lockdown, Caritas Ghana was gearing up to support victims of demolitions in the country.

“The recent demolitions in the Old Fadama (suburb of Accra) areas have further exposed vulnerabilities. By the weekend, Caritas local groups had registered over one hundred and fifty families who are completely displaced and needing urgent humanitarian assistance,” he said and added, “These would add to the numbers that Caritas Ghana had been catering for in the lockdown situation for immediate support while we make plans to resettle those willing to return to their home communities.”

Meanwhile, in a statement seen by ACI Africa, the Ghana Pentecostal and Charismatic Council (GPCC), has described the lifting of the three-week lockdown on Accra and other parts of the country as a welcome move.

They say the statement issued on April 20 easing the restrictions is “quite encouraging especially for many Ghanaians who are in the informal sector of the economy.”

“The Council is however appealing to all Ghanaians not to take this relaxation of the lockdown for granted but should continue to observe the measures rolled out by the government to minimize or stop the spread of the virus,” GPCC stated.

As of April 23, tests conducted in Ghana indicated that at least 1,154 persons had tested positive for COVID-19; 120 people have recovered from the virus and nine have died.