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Fears Grow of Further COVID-19 Spikes Ahead of Ghana's Election

Stacey Knott

   ACCRA - Ghana has been lauded for its COVID-19 response and a fairly
   low death toll of 323 people. Total cases have now surpassed 50,000,
   however, and the president recently warned citizens to stay vigilant.
   Experts fear that cases will increase as political parties go into full
   campaign mode ahead of the December 7 vote.

   Ghana's Health Service recently estimated that more than 80% of
   Ghanaians are not wearing face masks, a drastic drop from previous
   compliance levels.

   Last month, President Nana Akufo-Addo urged Ghanaians to put on the
   masks during rallies for the December 7 election. But at campaign
   events across the nation, for both Akufo-Addo's New Patriotic Party and
   the opposition National Democratic Congress, supporters are flouting
   the rules.

   As she waited for the president to show up for an outdoor campaign
   event in Accra, Cynthia Asiamah said it was frustrating to see other
   supporters without their masks.

   "Some people are not wearing the nose masks, but they don't listen --
   seriously -- they don't listen to their president, because [the]
   president told us everybody must wear the nose mask first," she said.

   Some political organizers are taking precautions, holding events
   outdoors or online. Some hold health walks instead of traditional
   rallies.

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