President Nana Akufo-Addo has made a clarion call to all Ghanaians who are yet to be vaccinated against the COVID-19 virus to stop indulging in any form of scepticism about the jab and get vaccinated.
Addressing participants at the 73rd annual New Year School of the University of Ghana at the Great Hall in Legon on the theme “COVID-19 and Socio-Economic Dynamics in Ghana”, the president said that whereas the COVID-19 pandemic has affected the Ghanaian economy greatly for the worse, his government has a well-thought-out plan to salvage the situation.
Part of that plan, he stressed, is to ensure that all eligible Ghanaians receive a vaccination.
“I want to urge all Ghanaians to get vaccinated and help end the spread of the virus in our country,” the president declared.
“The science tells us that [it is] the most efficient way to defeat the virus and go back to our normal way of life, reopen fully our economy and return our nation on to the path of progress and prosperity,” Akufo-Addo said.
“And for the sceptics, they should take note of the data that says that 80% of those who are currently infected are those who have not been vaccinated. That is enough to tell us about the value of vaccination,” the president said.
Vaccines are available
President Akufo-Addo said the Government of Ghana has so far secured roughly 26 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines, with more on the way.
“Thus far, a total of 10,451,662 vaccines doses have been administered. Seven million, seventy thousand, seven hundred and nineteen persons have received at least one jab, with 3,380,949 persons fully vaccinated.
“So, I entreat all those who have not yet been vaccinated to do so. Our responsibility to one another requires that we be vaccinated,” the president urged.
Keynote speakers
Keynote addresses to the 73rd New Year School were delivered by two further guests.
The first speaker was Dr Juliette M Tuakli, medical director and chief executive officer of the CHILDAccra medical group and Ghana chair of the board of trustees for United Way Worldwide.
The second was Pierre Frank Laporte, the Ghana country director of the World Bank.
Innovation and security in the spotlight
The New Year School will involve three panel discussions.
The first will discuss emerging technologies and innovations in health-care delivery during pandemics and the second panel will consider COVID-19 in relation to global peace and security.
The final panel will take a look at the socio-economic impact of COVID-19 on Ghana’s economy, and the challenges and prospects that it brings.
Wilberforce Asare
Asaase Radio 99.5 – tune in or log on to broadcasts online
99.5 in Accra, 101.5 in Bawku, 99.9 in Bimbilla, 100.3 in Cape Coast, 90.7 in Ho, 98.5 in Kumasi, 99.7 in Tamale, 89.5 in Tarkwa and 106.9 in Walewale
#AsaaseRadio
#TheVoiceofOurLand
