Pressure group, OccupyGhana has cautioned against the relaxation of the ban on social gatherings, instituted to curb the spread of coronavirus in the country.

In a statement copied to JoyNews, the group said it has noted with concern the rate at which Covid-19 cases in Ghana have risen since the partial lockdown was lifted on 19th April 2020.

“There has been little success in enforcing restrictive measures announced by the President, and for the most part they have been disregarded by the public. The good thing is that the majority of postive cases are asymptomatic and the case fatality rate has been rather low.

“We believe that relaxing restrictions at this time and lifting the ban on social gatherings would be very risky. Relaxing the restrictions could speed up community spread, expose more vulnerable Ghanaians, increase the number of symptomatic cases and nudge up the case fatality rate,” the statement added.”

The extended ban on social gatherings which was first announced on March 15, expires on Monday, May 11, 2020.

After eight weeks, however, some people have called for the ban to be relaxed. The Ghana Pentecostal and Charismatic Council (GPCC) has already appealed to government to immediately formulate safety guidelines for churches to pave way for them to resume worship activities to resume.

The GPCC says churches the structures and capacity to roll out effective social distancing and safety measures.

But OccupyGhana like the Ghana Medical Association (GMS) says the President should not “relax the restrictions but continue with the current measures aimed at slowing and ultimately stopping the spread of COVID-19.

“We will support further and even enhanced restrictions, and for as long as it takes to bring the infections down.”

Below is a copy of the full statement:

OCCUPYGHANA®️

PRESS STATEMENT

OccupyGhana®️ Supports Extension of COVID-19 Restrictions

OccupyGhana®️ notes that the current restrictions imposed on public gatherings by the Restrictions (Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) Pandemic) Instrument 2020 (EI 64) are to expire tonight, 10th May 2020.

We have also noted with concern the rate at which COVID-19 cases in Ghana have risen since the partial lockdown was lifted on 19th April 2020. Positive cases have risen from 1,042 to 4,263 and deaths from 9 to 22 in 21 days. This rise is predominantly from community spread.

There has been little success in enforcing restrictive measures announced by the President, and for the most part they have been disregarded by the public. The good thing is that the majority of postive cases are asymptomatic and the case fatality rate has been rather low.

We believe that relaxing restrictions at this time and lifting the ban on social gatherings would be very risky. Relaxing the restrictions could speed up community spread, expose more vulnerable Ghanaians, increase the number of symptomatic cases and nudge up the case fatality rate.

This is why OccupyGhana®️ is asking the President not to relax the restrictions but continue with the current measures aimed at slowing and ultimately stopping the spread of COVID-19. We will support further and even enhanced restrictions, and for as long as it takes to bring the infections down.

We also encourage the Ghana Health Service to continue the campaign of testing, tracing and treating. Until a vaccine is available, that is the best way of managing the outbreak.

Lastly, we ask that epidemiological data about the outbreak in Ghana be made available promptly to the public to allow all to see our progress or otherwise.

Still in the service of God and Country

OccupyGhana