521
An Educationist and Social Commentator, Mr. George Akom has stated that since the outbreak of Coronavirus with COVID 19 and its declaration as pandemic, the situation has become a headache for leaders of all nations across continents. He added that there have been several interventions instituted by many leaders of nations in consultation with their health experts, officials and stakeholders to avoid the spread of the disease and to eradicate it for the good of the citizenry. One of such interventions and activities to combat the spread of the pandemic which has received a mixed reaction and resistance is what is termed as “LOCKDOWN”. This Lockdown, operationally is a situation in which people are not allowed to enter or leave a building or area freely because of an emergency. The outbreak of COVID 19 has made this lockdown a mantra for governments across nations. Each country’s lockdown has come with different rules and guidelines. The commonest lockdown guidelines across nations is Security –Enforced lockdowns with relevant authorities including the police and military of which citizens must comply with these new measures and these security agencies being given the powers to enforce them through fines and dispersing gatherings. These lockdowns have come with timeliness and some exist strategies based on the situation on the ground, but nations continue to make changes to the rules and guidelines regarding lockdowns which has become a dual problem for both the government and citizens. These lockdowns have brought an impromptu changes in the cultural, social and economic existence of human beings. Mr. Akom indicated that, physiologically, individual differences and self-esteem affect how people react to change. He further stated that the demography of citizens affects change and therefore would impact citizens reaction to lockdowns. He continued that this impromptu restrictions on humans have affected how citizens create their own survivals and cope with the current situations under this novel coronavirus outbreak.
He averred that it has become very difficult and a nightmare for Leaders of nations to continue announcing lockdown plans whiles their previous announcements and anticipations could not bring the expected outcomes. The worst of all is the mix reactions that come with a lockdown announcements; whiles some would have preferred a relaxed lockdown plans, others would prefer a total lockdown considering how each group view the situation and their current lifestyle. He iterated that the living conditions, more particularly food for some household of citizens under this lockdown has become a bane to the successful implementation of lockdown policies across nations. Despite the efforts by government, philanthropists, NGO’s, organisations and individuals in the support of the provision of basic social amenities, provision of food items and logistics to fight against the disease, the sustainability of some of these support in commensurate with the continuous extension of the lockdown plans is an emerging situation that should be given attention by the government and citizens. Mr. George Akom, an Assistant Registrar of the Ghana Technology University College, addressed that the classical psychological reactions to this change as a result of this lockdown in Ghana has created denial of freedom especially movement of people which has led to anger, confusion and crisis. He emphasized that although, it is a difficult situation under this lockdown which is not comparable to a curfew, the situation would very soon become part of us and create an acceptance situation if the lockdown continues to be extended with the continuous provision of basic essentials and their availability which would build a new confidence in our lives for survival as time elapses. He opined that inasmuch as we want the lockdown to be relaxed or abolished, citizens should do the best to comply with all laid down measures to quicken its total abolishment. He further advised citizens to attach all manner of seriousness it deserves and abide by all the rules and guidelines with regard to the precautionary measures and lockdown since the situation is two sides of the same coin, citizens and government responsibilities in fighting the pandemic. He encouraged citizens to adapt to the any outcomes from the address by the President to overcome the situation since some of these rules are temporary measures for the good of all citizens to fight against the pandemic in Ghana.
Source: Broadcastergh.com/Ayisah Foster
