The Chairperson of the Board of Trustees for the National Covid-19 Trust Fund has blamed political rallies, parties during Christmas and other superspreader events for the spike in Ghana’s Covid-19 cases.

Sophia Akuffo speaking to JoyNews’ Latif Iddirisu stated that many people during the latter part of 2020 went about their business with no regards for safety protocols or mask-wearing.

“I stopped watching TV before the elections because my heart will be jumping. I just couldn’t, people are excited and together, they are not wearing a mask, they are shouting. There were parties and large gatherings without masks,” she said.

The former Chief Justice added that many Ghanaians do not realise that the pandemic has become a death sentence for many people in the country and across the globe.

Her comment comes after the daily virus cases in the country surged taking the country’s Covid-19 active cases to 1192, 58,065 total confirmed cases with 352 deaths.

During his 22nd address to the nation, President Akufo-Addo revealed the Ghana Health Service is recording on the average, 200 new cases of Covid-19 infections daily.

“The number of severe cases, which stood at 18 a week ago, has increased sharply to 120. Two weeks ago, there was no critical case, we now have 33 in our treatment facilities,” he added.

President Akufo-Addo also said a new variant of the novel coronavirus has been detected within the country.

He stated that government will be compelled to put the country under a lockdown if Ghanaians do not adhere strictly to protocols to curb the spread of the coronavirus pandemic,

In the interview with JoyNews Madam Akuffo stated that it is important people begin to take the safety and health protocols seriously.

“So young people should decide that now it is hip and cool to keep your mask on. When you wear the mask, your nose and your mouth should be covered,” she added.

Regarding the reopening of schools, the former Chief Justice urged teachers to set an example for students and constantly monitor the children to ensure these protocols are being adhered to.

She added it is in the interest of people to keep an arms-length distance between them and go back to the culture of no hugging and no handshaking which was adopted after the pandemic first hit the country.

“I don’t even believe in the elbows thing (greeting). If my elbow can torch yours you are too close. In ghana when bad situations persist for a while and we start making jokes about it, this pandemic is not a joking matter.”