Story by: Yunus Swalahudeen Wakpenjo
Despite growing anxiety by Ghanaian students in the province of Wuhan, in the people’s republic of china, to be evacuated since the escalation of what world health organization has recounted as global epidemic of coronavirus, the government of the Republic of Ghana, has turned deaf ears to the plights of some stranded 300 Ghanaian students in the province.
Speaking on good morning Ghana on metro tv, on Monday, deputy chief executive officer of youth employment Authority (YEA) madam Akosua manu, has reiterated government’s stance over the heightening pressure to evacuate Ghanaian citizens and describe the call for evacuation as premature and deliberate attempt by section of Ghanaians to score cheap political point. According to her, the government has always maintained the position of dealing with an expert and that is what will remain until otherwise.
She added that no need for creating undue panic as though coronavirus is as deadly as Ebola, in her estimation, “even Ebola which was more deadly has been dealt with”. She fumed.
Although some statement was released by students in Wuhan, indicating their anxiety, madam Akosua rubbished the claim and maintained, those students were faking impression. Alleging that she has information categorically stating that the Ghanaian Wuhan student’s front has been divided with regards to the evacuation.
Adding that, the government has persistently supported these students financially to cushion their tension, even though the students have indicated that, in their current situation, money is the least on their mind.
She further maintained that, the Chinese embassy gives the students some $500 while the Ghana government has also pledged some $250,000 to support their plights monthly until the vaccine is discovered for this deadly respiratory disease. This was estimated for some 18months from the time of the report.
In her assertion, world health organization had cautioned against evacuating citizens from china in this crucial time of rapid escalation of the epidemic, and the Ghana government would stick to the directives.
She however stirred fear over Ghana’s unpreparedness to deal with the virus should it escalates. Emphasizing that, should any of the 300 students be brought into the country and happened to test positive to the virus, it would have been a disaster to the entire country, which the country is not ready for.
Akosua also thinks logistic and expert wise, Ghana is not ready to mingle with any possible threat of coronavirus, especially, not from Ghanaian students who base in the province which has recorded the first epidemic and continue counting.
Nonetheless, Ghana is yet to place a travel ban on travelers to and from China.
Meanwhile, NDC parliamentary candidate for awutu senya west, madam Gabrielle Tetteh, has described the government’s posture as ‘malicious and wicked’ approach to the situation of Ghanaian students in China. She insisted the government must evacuate them and quarantine them until the last person test negative before integrating them into the society, instead of living them to their fate in a country where they stand the risk of getting the disease.