Open the borders - Aflao residents cry over worsening plight

Residents at the Aflao border are pleading with the government to open all closed borders, an order put in place as a measure in containing the spread of coronavirus in the country.

The residents who spoke to UTV in an interview, mostly made up of commercial drivers, explained that the closure has negatively affected their living conditions.

Against this backdrop, they are pleading with the government to open the borders for them, so that business can resume.

"This job is our job we are doing. Because if the border is opened, you can fit carry person pass the main border and you get small thing. As you dey close the border, if somebody comes, you know where they will fit pass enter Togo but they are not going anywhere again. Since morning I dey here, I no go anywhere. So we pray for our government make he for fo something about the border. If he will open the border small, if we go get something," he said in Pidgin.

In the report monitored by GhanaWeb, other residents in the area, continue to flout the directive, citing a variety of reasons, including a claim that their gods have assured them of no coronavirus in the area.

A commercial motorcyclist popularly known as Okada rider debunked the existence of COVID-19 in the area, citing assurance by traditional deities in the area, adding that the face mask also makes breathing difficult.

He reiterated that although he has one, he barely uses it since the oracle has confirmed that the virus does not exist.

"Me My juju say, that thing they say coronavirus, that thing ebi illegal. That thing ebi fake things. So me I get juju where edey talk me true... My juju say make I no use this thing," one of the drivers said in Pidgin to the UTV reporter.

Other drivers who spoke to UTV attributed their behaviour of non-compliance to financial constraints.

Meanwhile, the president this morning extended the closure of Ghana's borders to May 31, the directive is expected to take effect on Monday, May 4, 2020.

President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo added that the decision was needed to manage the current local cases recorded in the country.

“…The government has taken the decision to extend further the closure of our borders for a month, effective 1 am on Monday 4th May until Sunday 31st May. We know that the overwhelming majority of positive cases came from travellers or contacts of travellers, so we have no option than to keep our borders closed until we are confident that we have put in place measures to prevent travellers from importing the virus.

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