The Speaker of Parliament, Hon. Alban Bagbin, has ordered that all 275 Members of Parliament should undergo a compulsory COVID-19 test

According to the Speaker, with the rise of positive cases in the country and with the confirmation of the second wave of the Coronavirus, it has become imperative for strict measures to be taken to prevent the spread of the Coronavirus.

That directive is spot on in the light of the act of mayhem that engulfed the House on the night preceding the induction of the President. As we all saw, while that was a disgrace to our hard-earned democratic culture, it also created fertile grounds for those who may be having the infection to pass it on to innocent colleagues.

As we may also be aware, it is in their interest to know their COVID-19 infection statuses as leading lights in our democratic space. This is necessary because they can then conveniently lead, not only in passing relevant laws, but also advocating for total, collective, and sustained compliance.

Casualties

In the last few days, the nation has lost several of its notable citizens to the poison of the pandemic. These, we are reliably informed, include Dr. Amoako Tuffuor, a top appointee in the John Agyekum Kufour administration; late astute businessman Joe Djaba’s daughter; a leading intelligence official; another businessman in the finance industry, etc.

Particularly in the light of the fact that Ghana has already lost some big men since the outbreak of the virus last year, the Speaker’s decision to have all parliamentarians conduct the test to prevent it from spreading in the august House is not only timely but imperative.

Directive

He insisted that “All members of Parliament are accordingly requested to avail themselves for this important medical screening exercise scheduled as follows – Wednesday 20th to Friday, January 22, 2021. COVID-19 is real and deadly, at the end of the day if we find out that a member or some members haven’t gone through the screening we’ll advise ourselves as to what to do”

The Speaker’s directive, coming in the wake of the President’s routine but last public briefing, also points out how important it is for leadership to set examples in the fight against the pandemic at the workplace, in homes, public transport, along the streets, and on markets.

Enforcing compliance

That police and other security agencies have been tasked to ensure that citizens obey all the COVID-19 protocols which have been announced to prevent the spread of the virus show how committed government is in ensuring compliance in our collective effort to improve lives and livelihoods.

It is the opinion of the Thunder that every Ghanaian living in any part of the country owe it to ourselves and the nation to comply with the World Health Organisation and Ghana Health Service protocols which require us to regularly wash our hands under running water, use nose masks, sanitizers and also social distance, while we, additionally, strive to take our meals hot and nutritious.

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