United Press advises government to use NaBCo personnel for coronavirus education

The United Press for Development Network (UPDN) on Saturday called on the Ministry of Information, to engage personnel of the Nation Builders Corps (NaBCo)and National Service Scheme to provide on the ground public education about COVID-19.

The call was to enable the personnel to support the Information Service Department and the National Commission for Civic Education in undertaking public education to control the spread of the pandemic.

A UPDN statement jointly signed by Mr Kofi Asante Mensah, the President and Mr Kelvin Malor, the National Organizer, and copied to the Ghana News Agency in Accra stated.

“United Press for Development Network (UPDN) commends Information Minister, Mr Kojo Oppong Nkrumah; Deputy Information Minister, Mr Pius Enam Hadzide, and Health Minister, Mr Kwaku Agyeman Manu, for the enormous and gallant work done on public information delivery in the wake of COVID-19.

“We are fully aware that, information dissemination is a tedious, vigorous, rigorous and challenging task and UPDN sincerely appreciates the assiduous, relentless and tireless efforts by the aforementioned government officials and we say Ayekoo,” the statement said.

The UPDN also urged the Ministry of Information to consider commencing a daily media briefing to better inform Ghanaians on Government’s policy direction and the Country’s Coronavirus preventive protocols in all sectors of the economy.

The recommendation would not only edify the media and public on COVID-19, but also enhance information release and delivery, communication efficiency and demystify several misconceptions about the virus, the statement said.

Some Ghanaians, it noted, were defying the partial lockdown orders in various communities, market places and posing danger to citizens because of lack of enough information and understanding.

Therefore, a daily media encounter or briefing would allay fears or scare among the public, lessen the stigmatization and bring about confidence to fight to victory as a country.