Lawyer and Convenor of #FixTheCountry protest, has bemoaned the lack of consistency by government officials in complying with the Imposition of Restriction Act established to help the fight against Covid-19.
This follows public outcry against the flouting of Covid-19 safety protocols at the funeral of the CEO of Forestry Commission, Kwadwo Owusu Afriyie funeral vis-a-vis the court order granted against #FixTheCountry which prevented them from embarking on a protest march on May 9.
The order, granted by Justice Ruby Aryeetey, prevented the group from proceeding with the protest march on the said day “or any other date until the restriction on public gathering is lifted.”
However, the reason for which the #FixTheCountry protestors were banned was played out during the funeral of the late Kwadwo Owusu Afriyie, popularly known as Sir John.
According to Oliver Barker-Vormawor the “people who have been entrusted with democratic experience have very little care for the substance of what it means to live in a democratic society” and as for that matter, Ghanaians need to take a look in the mirror and see the true nature of the country’s leadership.
“It is about holding the mirror to our society so that all Ghanaians can disabuse their minds as to the reality of political governance in the country and time and time again the reflection of that mirror continues to give us of the society and of the people in leadership is one that speaks with one clear and resounding voice that we are not living in a democracy.”
Mr Barker-Vormawor stated that the issue of leadership breaking the Imposition of Restriction Act at Sir John’s funeral gives credence to the misconception that Covid-19 is not real. In addition, he observed how selective the imposition of Covid-19 restrictions is applied to the country’s citizenry.
“But it is about what leadership said about the ways in which the same rules and same laws can be used to depress constitutional right and yet certain people feel themselves as so unaccountable to us as a people that they are able to this and this for me is the most disturbing aspect of this,” he added.
The burial ceremony held for the former General Secretary of the NPP, Kwadwo Owusu Afriyie was attended by thousands of mourners including President Akufo-Addo, Vice President Bawumia and other government functionaries.
The gathering was in breach of the Imposition of Restrictions Act, 2020 (Act 1012) and Covid-19 protocols were completely disregarded. There was no physical distancing and only few people wore face masks.
The Ghana Medical Association (GMA), subsequently issued a press statement demanding that the law enforcement agencies investigate and deal with the organisers of the funeral according to the law in order for it to serve as a deterrent to others who intend to endanger the public health of our nation.
