As part of efforts to prevent the spread of the novel Coronavirus, the College for Community and Organisational Development (CCOD) has organised inter-party sensitisation forum on radio for Political Parties in the Upper West Region.
The sensitisation enabled the parties to spell out their activities aimed at preventing the spread of the disease.
Speaking on GBC’s Radio Upper West, the Executive Director of the College, Gabriel Benarkuu, said the virus does not know any political party and that there is the need for all parties to come on board in their own capacities to help fight the fast spreading of the virus.
Mr Benarkuu noted that the Ghanaian masses that elect political parties into power are in difficult times and need their support.
Dr Gabriel Benarkuu urged Ghanaians to adhere strictly to the precautionary measures by the health authorities in order to avoid contracting the virus.
He said coronavirus is deadly and fast spreading and advised Ghanaians against self-medication at this crucial moment saying “everyone should seek for medical attention immediately when feeling unhealthy”.
The Coordinator of CCOD Upper West Region, Tuo Frankline Dombo, described Ghana’s current situation as “hard-hitting” and advised politicians to put party colours aside and join the fight.
“It is indeed a hard time in which we found ourselves and CCOD in Upper West Region has taken the pain to do our bit by bringing political parties on radio once they are also stakeholders of the communities to help sensitise the people.
As Community oriented College, our mandate is to ensure that members of the communities are safe and doing well in all spheres of life.
I beg my people in Upper West Region and everybody in Ghana not to do politics with this. We need collective ideas to fight this pandemic.
For the going is tough and we must stop the game and when the pandemic is over then we can continue,” Mr Frankline Dombo stated.
Former Regional Youth Organiser of the NDC, Prince Mahmoud, revealed that some parliamentary candidates of the party in the region have already started the fight with support and education for their constituents.
He mentioned Bede Ziedeng for Lawra Constituency, Peter Lanchene Toobu of the Wa West and Dr Rashid Pelpuo among others.
“All these candidates have donated massively to support their constituents and also embarked on sensitisation exercises and so we are very committed to support the fight,” he stated.
Mr Mahmoud said all party activities have been halted describing it as the party commitment in supporting government to fight the COVID-19.
“As a party in the region, first and foremost, we have taken a keen interest in the directives from our national flagbearer at the national level as far as COVID-19 is concerned.
Beyond that, at the regional level, our Chairman, Abdul-Nasir Saani (BUNAS) also has given further directives to the constituencies and Parliamentary Candidates to adhere to,” Mr Mahmoud stressed.
The representative of Convention People Party (CPP), Isahaque Suleman said the only way people can avoid the virus is to stop unnecessary loitering and travelling. He pledged the party’s support to fight the spread of the virus.
Mohammed Bipuah from the New Patriotic Party (NPP), said government is on course in the fight against the Coronavirus.
He called on the security agencies especially Ghana Immigration Service to step up efforts to ensure that all unapproved routes into the country are monitored. He observed that foreigners still troop into Ghana through these routes.
He said border communities have a role to play in this difficult time and must assist the Ghana Immigration Service to ensure that nobody enters the country through their communities.
Story filed by Emmanuel Mensah-Abludo & Dennis Bebane.
