Managing Editor of the Insight Newspaper, Kwesi Pratt Jnr has chastised government over its handling of the Covid-19 pandemic in the country.
According to Mr. Pratt, the government instead of adopting effective measures in fighting the pandemic when the country recorded its first cases resorted to prayers and fasting as a measure of fighting the virus. This, he asserted, has led to the current surge in the spread of the virus in the country.
For him, it was reckless and illogical for the president to direct Ghanaians to pray and fast for divine intervention for the elimination of the virus when he should have ensured strict enforcement of the safety protocols and provision of the necessary medical supplies and equipment to effectively deal with disease in the country.
Mr. Pratt believes the president’s call on Ghanaians to fast and pray for God’s help in curbing the virus compromised the fight against the pandemic as religiously inclined people were likely to disregard the safety measures and resort to prayers for protection against the virus.
“When the virus started spreading, what were we told? Our government organized days and nights of prayers to drive away the virus. We were told to pray. We’ve prayed for one year long and the virus continue to kill. It has killed my brother. My brother was a prominent member of the Scriptures Union of Ghana and a faithful attendee of the Ridge Church. He used to shout and pray but he died.
A lot of people believe in prayers. They are entitled to believe in it but prayer cannot be a national policy for fighting a virus. It is reckless. It is foolish for a nation faced with this pandemic to resort to prayers because we do know that all over the world it has not solved the problem,” he said.
Ghana observed a national day of fasting and prayers on March 25, 2020 in a bid to seek God’s protection against the virus following a request by President Akufo-Addo. The President, in his third address to the nation on measures to curb the Covid-19 pandemic, urged Ghanaians to seek God’s intervention in the nation’s fight against the virus. He said while citizens must adhere to the safety protocols, it was important to seek divine help and intervention hence, his request.
But almost a year down the line, the country is still battling with the virus as number of infections and deaths from the virus is on a sharp rise. Currently, the country records, at least, 700 new cases of Covid-19 daily with many people falling severely ill and dying from the virus.
