The National Security Council is spearheading the enforcement drive to ensure that all Ghanaians wear face masks in public spaces.

This follows a directive by President Akufo-Addo as part of measures to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus.

The President on Sunday night announced the lifting of a three-week lockdown in Accra, Tema, Kasoa and Kumasi.

During this televised address, he also reiterated that the ban on public gathering still remains and practice of social distancing continues unabated including the compulsory wearing of facemasks.

But this is yet to see full adherence by a section of the pubic.

The Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) for instance has had to release a statement directing all institutions to enforce this directive.

The National Security Council is the latest to join the chain of enforcers in this regard.

A memo sighted by JoyNews’ Maxwell Kudekor reveals that regional security coordinators have been directed to create awareness on the wearing of the personal protective equipment, especially among the Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies.

State institutions were not left out of the fray, according to the Eastern Regional correspondent as he explained details of the memo on Top Story Thursday.

“They are asking the MMDAs to create awareness among commercial drivers, riders… and people at market places.

This is a precautionary measure which preceeds the much more stringent enforcement drive by the National Security Council with is expected to happen in the coming days.

Similarly, compliance in the Eastern Region leaves much to be desired as residents continue to flout the directive.

The role of an Executive Instrument

Deputy Minister for Local Government and Rural Development, Osei Bonsu Amoah, on April 22, called for the initiation of an Executive Instrument (EI), to help enforce social distancing protocols in the country’s markets.

Speaking on the AM Show on JoyNews, Mr O.B Amoah explained that an Executive Instrument will be a good “alternative arrangement” to ensure that the markets do not become breeding grounds of the novel coronavirus.

“As we speak, it’s more of protocols but as things get tighter, we also have to tighten the rules. Even though at the Assembly level you will say that by-laws are to be imposed on some of these things but probably, if a bigger force like an E.I comes in, then they know that this is what the laws say and this is how we should implement it,” the Akuapem South Member of Parliament said.