'Politicians value votes more than human lives' - Thomas Yankey

The opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) 2016 parliamentary candidate for Jomoro Constituency in the Western Region, Mr. Thomas Yankey popular known as 'Nobody' has called out the Akufo-Addo-led government for lifting the partial lockdown amidst the coronavirus pandemic.

President Akufo-Addo on Sunday announced the lifting the 3-week lockdown on Greater Accra and Kumasi, with effect from Monday, April 20.

Addressing the nation on Sunday, April 19, 2020, the president, however, stated all other social distancing measures are still in place. Churches, Schools both Public and Private, will still remain shut.

According to the president, the decision to enforce the 3-week lockdown was taken to give Government the opportunity to try to contain the spread of the virus, scale-up effectively the tracing of persons who had come into contact with infected persons, test them for the virus, and quarantine those who tested positive and isolate them for treatment.

But, according to him (Thomas Yankey), the lifting of the lockdown is to allow the Electoral Commission of Ghana to embark on the controversial new voters' registration exercise.

"One thing comes to mind instantly. It is a known fact that the EC is hell-bent on compiling a new register in spite of all factors, especially the timing and the outbreak of this Pandemic, indicating that it will not be in the interest of the nation. With the lockdown making it impossible for this agenda to be executed, as exemplified by the illegal and unsuccessful attempt by the NIA to defy the directives, and go ahead with the registration thereby endangering human lives in pursuit of this overall agenda, it has been decided to end the lockdown prematurely so that there will be a little time for which a case can be made to push the new voter registration agenda through", he claimed this in a statement issued and copied to the media.

"This lends credence to believing that our politicians are attaching more importance to their votes than the lives of Ghanaians which is unfortunate and unacceptable. Apart from the new voter registration, what major reason will inform the rushed-decision to lift the lockdown when it is urgently needed at this time??", he quizzed.

He advised, "I therefore urge Ghanaian leaders to take a second look at this decision before the situation gets out of hand (God forbid). It is too early to lift the lockdown!"

"I also urge all Ghanaians and media practitioners to use their platforms to re-echo this call since we all need to help in the fight against this common enemy, Covid-19", he added.

Below is the full statement

LOCKDOWN LIFTING IN GHANA - VOTES BEING VALUED OVER HUMAN LIVES

The President of the Republic of Ghana, His Excellency, Nana Akufo Addo in a televised announcement on Sunday April 19, 2020, lifted the lockdown of those few parts of the country when, in reality, the opposite should have been done. In other words, the entire country should have been locked down.

A look at some figures will help explain my stand:

As of the time of writing this article, 11:52pm on Sunday April 19, 2020 ( U.S. time), the number of deaths in the U. S was 40,524; new deaths stood at 1, 510 and total infections were 763,579.

Total number of deaths in Spain was 20, 453 with 198, 674 infections and the third country, Italy had 178, 972 infections with 23,660 total deaths according to the world Health Organization. This is how dangerous the virus is, just as the disease it carries!

One major reason for these astronomical deaths in these countries, especially in the United States, is that the virus was underrated and the necessary precautionary measures were not taken until they were taken unawares. This should be an experience for the rest of the world, including Ghana.

It is a fact that Ghana's initial approach in handling the pandemic has been encouraging and commendable but, it is the end that always matters!

At the time of this piece, Ghana had recorded, 1,042 infections and 9 deaths. Though the numbers seem low, a number of factors may explain these low numbers; complacency should therefore not set in now, it will spell the unexpected. There is the urgent need to finish the good work that has been started - making sure that the initial directives are intensely observed and extended throughout the country as the pandemic continues to spread throughout the country, otherwise in the end, work done will be zero.Therefore, why the rush to do the opposite by lifting the lockdown at this time?

One thing comes to mind instantly. It is a known fact that the EC is hell-bent on compiling a new register in spite of all factors, especially the timing and the outbreak of this Pandemic, indicating that it will not be in the interest of the nation. With the lockdown making it impossible for this agenda to be executed, as exemplified by the illegal and unsuccessful attempt by the NIA to defy the directives, and go ahead with the registration thereby endangering human lives in pursuit of this overall agenda, it has been decided to end the lockdown prematurely so that there will be a little time for which a case can be made to push the new voter registration agenda through.

This lends credence to believing that our politicians are attaching more importance to their votes than the lives of Ghanaians which is unfortunate and unacceptable. Apart from the new voter registration, what major reason will inform the rushed-decision to lift the lockdown when it is urgently needed at this time??

I am also tempted to believe that probably, without letting Ghanaians know, they have received some 'fake and deadly vaccines' from abroad, which has strengthened their belief that the situation is under control now; but one cannot give you what she/he does not have. No country has any reliable vaccine yet.

I therefore urge Ghanaian leaders to take a second look at this decision before the situation gets out of hand (God forbid). It is too early to lift the lockdown!

I also urge all Ghanaians and media practitioners to use their platforms to re-echo this call since we all need to help in the fight against this common enemy, Covid-19.

Thank you all and may God bless the people of Ghana.

Signed!

Thomas Yankey (a.k.a Nobody), Atlanta, U.S.A

2016 Jomoro NDC Parliamentary Candidate