The Information Minister says the media and faith-based organisations should call out persons indulging in the politicisation of the measures in fighting Covid-19.

Kojo Oppong Nkrumah speaking at a press briefing Tuesday stated that the recent calls for the de-escalation of the politicisation of the pandemic are very much welcomed.

“We appreciate the recent calls for the de-escalation of the growing politicisation. These calls are in line if you recall of the calls that we started making right here from this podium about a month ago that it is important for the country to remain focused on the common enemy (Covid-19),” he said.

He however complained that these calls from the public are only coming in at a time when government players have started responding to political statements being made by those in opposition.

According to Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, those making the calls now should have started a month ago when others were politicising government efforts at fighting the Covid-19 pandemic.

“At that time, some of the much-respected persons who are making this call for the de-escalation of politics today at that time were very quiet because as it appears their political leaders and their candidates were championing a political agenda at the time.

“Now when political actors on government side are also now responding politically, all of a sudden they say everybody needs to tone down on the politicization. That’s the truth of what has happened so far,” he said.

The Vice President recently hit back at former President John Mahama, over recent comments that the current administration’s discontinuation of projects he started, has badly affected Ghana’s Covid-19 fight.

According to the Minister, if media organizations, faith-based organisations, religious leaders and civil society groups do not call out those involved in the politicisation of the Covid-19 devoid of their political affiliations, the situation will worsen.

“The nation in all honesty stands a real risk of losing focus and degenerating into partisan political banter while the real key issue of covid-19 and managing it is relegated to the background. That is the real risk we run, that is where we are going,” he said.

He added that, “And this risk as I mentioned was started a little over a month ago so it is important that we all not be silent when our candidate is politicizing the matter only to speak when other people start responding politically.”