The President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo is pleading with Ghanaians to wear nose masks correctly to help in the fight against the Coronavirus pandemic.
This comes after a recent survey done by the Ghana Health Service showed that, out of a number of persons observed in selected places in Accra, only 44.3% wear face masks properly.
Even though the survey proved that 82% of these persons possessed a face mask, just a few actually wore them in the appropriate way.
Akufo-Addo, while delivering his 15th national address on COVID-19 stated that, “I have been encouraged by the results of a recent survey conducted by the Ghana Health Service into the use of face masks at selected locations in Accra in the month of August. It revealed that the overall intention to use face masks at the sites surveyed was very high, with 82% of persons surveyed possessing a mask.”
“I believe we can do even more, and reach 100%. However, the same survey demonstrated that only 44.3% of those who have the mask use them correctly. I urge each and every one of us to wear our masks, and do so correctly anytime we leave our homes. It is the new normal requirement of our daily existence until the virus disappears,” he added.
Face masks not for pockets or bags – NCCE
The National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) had earlier appealed to Ghanaians to desist from keeping their face masks in their pockets and bags instead of using them to protect themselves from contracting the coronavirus.
The Volta Regional Director of the Commission, Kenneth Kponor, who made the appeal said it was appalling to see people not wearing the face mask, but when confronted, pull it out of their pockets or bag .
“This is an attitude of irresponsibility at the highest order, and must be stopped forthwith,” he stated.
“Even some of those who attempted to use the masks hang it under their jawbone, a development which is not helping the fight against the pandemic,” he lamented.
Mr. Kponor pointed out that when such unfortunate attitudes were not corrected, all efforts by the government to curb the spread of the virus would not materialize.