President of the National House of Chiefs, Togbe Afede XIV, has described as "commendable and bold", decisions taken by President Akufo-Addo to contain the spread of coronavirus in the country.

“On behalf of my colleagues, I wish to congratulate you for all the bold decisions that have produced this low infection rate – the ban on public gatherings, closure of our borders, social distancing and the recent lockdown of parts of the country. They are very commendable, bold decisions,” he said Wednesday, April 22, when the Executive Committee of the National House of Chiefs met with President at the Jubilee House.

He also commended President Nana Akufo-Addo for instituting the measures that resulted in the country seeing an infection rate of 1.5%.

President Akufo-Addo in his seventh address to the nation on measures being taken tgo minimise the surge of the coronavirus pandemic in the country, reported that a total of 68,591 had been tested for the virus out of which 67,549 tested negative representing 98.5% while a 1,042 have tested (1.5%) tested positive for the coronavirus.

Some 99 persons have also revocered which constitutes 9.5% while total number of deaths recorded stood at nine (0.9%), the president told the nation.

Delivering his remarks, Togbe Afede XIV who is also the Agbogbemefia of Asogli State,said the National House of Chiefs has taken a keen interest in the fight against Covid-19, and, “that is why, among other things, we have asked our Chiefs and other traditional rulers to put in their maximum effort in support of government.”

He continued, “We consider our country to be at war, and so we have asked our Chiefs to take it as their obligation to lead the fight against Covid-19, the invisible enemy. We asked our chiefs to rise up to the occasion and support government’s efforts to fight the disease.”

Amongst others, Togbe Afede revealed that all Chiefs across the country have been asked to keep abreast of the preventative measures and directives issued by government, and to abide by them and educate their subjects in order to stem the spread of the disease in their various communities. 

Again, he indicated that the National House of Chiefs has asked for the suspension of all traditional festivals, and asked chiefs to ensure that any rites or traditional activities and purification rites are consistent with the President’s directives on social distancing.

“I am happy to note that our various regional houses, traditional councils, individual chiefs have all been very supportive and have done various things in their communities to support the fight and I am glad about the appreciation that you have shown for these various efforts. Everybody here has done something in his community, some donated cash and some have educated their communities on the directives,” he added.

He expressed delight about the fact that Ghana has so far not experienced any Covid-19 related violence like occurrences in India and some places who resist lockdowns.

“This shows that the policies introduced by President Akufo-Addo that have been adopted here are generally understood and have been observed by our people. Congrats to the approach of your team.”

Togbe Afede noted that the Covid-19 pandemic should imbibe in all Ghanaians ,the importance of savings and investments against a rainy day.  

“We must cultivate a saving habit in preparation for future exigencies. Your Excellency, I also want to re-echo the point you have made very often that we are in this battle together against the invisible enemy and we all need to be united and nation minded in all that we say at this critical time in our nation’s history,” he noted.