A security analyst with the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre (KAIPTC), believes that it will be extremely difficult to convince Ghanaians again that Covid-19 is in existence.

Professor Kwesi Aning said the majority of the populace hold the perception that the virus is not in existence anymore due to action and inaction of those in authority.

He said the law on protocols like wearing face mask are relaxed and so people have resumed their daily activates devoid of the safety measure and non-complying to the directives of the president.

He told host of Newsfile, Samson Lardy Anyenini, Saturday that the reason some citizens fail to comply and respect directives from the President in his address to the nation, is because most political leaders fail to adhere and enforce protocols.

“There is a certain irony here; how should the public respond to a well-couched national message in response to a pandemic where we went through an election in which all the protocols were overlooked.”

He added that “over time as we went through the voter’s registration, the protocols got more and more relaxed and overtime prior to the campaigning, there was this perception that life is almost back to normal although it is there."

His comment comes after Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA) taskforce visited Laboma, Labadi, Korle Gono and Sunset among other beaches and found many revellers still swimming or having some form of entertainment there.

This was in clear violation of the President’s directives on closing the beaches and some public places.

However, Mr Kwesi Aning believes that a proper messaging that could convince people on the existence of the virus will help minimise the spread.

In his view, a proper narrative will change the perception, response and attitude towards the Covid-19 pandemic.

"So we've seen several faces and cycles in how the Ghanaian has responded to the Covid-19 messaging."   

“In the initial stage there was a bit of reticent, confusion, but as the lockdown took off and the numbers increased, we saw public acquaintance support for the usage of facemask and social distancing.

He added, "Part of the message, whether it was political message or communications, it must be couched in a manner in which those who present the messages themselves are seen to be following the content and the protocols surrounding the messages."