Free distribution of nose masks will be waste of resources – Pius Hadzide

The Deputy Minister of Information, Pius Enan Hadzide has asserted that it will not be a sound decision by the government to distribute free face masks for the Ghanaian populace.

This was in response to the question why the government had not provided the citizenry with face masks?

He made this statement in an interview on Happy98.9FM’s ‘Happy Morning Show’ with Samuel Eshun. “We can distribute free masks to Ghanaians but they will not wear it.”

According to him, the government is already providing health workers across the country with face masks. And it is still in their capacity to do same for Ghanaians but there is no need for it. “There is no data saying Ghanaians lack face masks and that the government should provide citizens with them.”

On the contrary, the minister motioned that, there are face masks vendors in every corner of the country with almost every Ghanaian having a mask. “It is not that Ghanaians don’t have face masks. Everyone one owns at least one but we just don’t want to wear them.”

The Deputy Minister indicating this as an issue of behavioural change called on Ghanaians to change their attitudes towards the wearing of masks. “I have met a lot of people not wearing masks and when you ask them why they pull their masks out of their pockets or cars.”

The politician sadly stated that the government’s effort in fighting against the COVID-19 pandemic was being hindered by the same populace it is trying to save.

He proceeded to advise Ghanaians to support the government by respecting COVID-19 etiquettes. Noting that, “It is only through behavioural change that we can beat the pandemic.”