The Ranking Member of the Health Committee in Parliament has accused the government of dragging its feet on a definite decision to evacuate Ghanaians caught in the Coronavirus epidemic in China.
According to the MP, the Chinese Ambassador to Ghana has made a recommendation to the state to evacuate its citizens in Wuhan.
He lamented that despite this call, the government has not indicated it is prepared or planning to bring these students home.
The Ranking Member, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh who spoke Ghanacrusader stated the situation of the Ghanaian students in Wuhan is dire.
The Akufo-Addo government, he said, has seemingly abandoned these students and is dilly dallying with the hope the situation will address itself.
He described as ridiculous excuses that the situation is dangerous hence the students should comply with the Chinese government directive and remain until the virus is brought under control.
He questioned, “Other countries are doing it and evacuating their people. Why can’t we?”
“If you talk to some of these students in the hard-hit areas in China they will confess and tell you.”
“They are in quarantine. They are in their bedrooms and they can’t even get food to eat.”
“Getting out of where they sleep is even difficult. It is that serious. If you are not in the situation you may think it is easy,” he added.
He expressed disappointment that there is no concerted effort by government for public education on the virus.
“I’m not planning to raise fear or anything but the situation is very serious and dangerous but nothing is being done about it.”
“There are Chinese all over this country.”
“For me the government must demonstrate that commitment so that if we run into a situation we can deal with it,” he said.
The Ranking Member described the measures government is said to have instituted to deal with the situation as woefully inadequate.
He warned that the ad-hoc measures initiated by the Ministry of Health are not enough to deal with the Coronavirus if the infection affects people in the country.
Mr. Akandoh noted that the state should have, by now, prepared a permanent center of international standards to deal with the virus.
The facilities being planned for this purpose, he said, are not internationally accredited to operate as holding facilities.
He noted that judging by the attitude of the government, the Ghanaian public is virtually a sitting duck if the Coronavirus finds its way into the country.
