Ghana eases lockdowns as people still fear infection

Ghana has eased its lockdown as people fear coronavirus infection in the country. The sudden easing of a three-week lockdown was carried out in two major cities, Accra and Kumasi, and daily life is gradually returning to normal despite cases of the coronavirus still being present.

Markets and commercial districts that had ground to an eerie halt have buzzed back to life and people are not taking the virus as seriously as they should.

Stores and banks have slowly reopened. Modest traffic jams have emerged as many people who had escaped the lockdown return to the cities. But schools, places of worship, restaurants and bars remain shut.

The reaction to President Nana Akufo-Addo’s unexpected order to ease restrictions two weeks ago has been mixed. Among the West African country’s corporate workers and affluent classes, many people continue to work from home and fear that the easing of the lockdown is premature.

It is assumed that the rich and middle class can afford to work from home hence they can stay in their homes while those who do casual jobs complain of the struggles.

Ghana’s government has halved electricity costs and cancelled water bills for three months, and distributed food supplies to ease the effects of the lockdown. But the help has not reached everyone. Some of Ghana’s poor in society complain that they have run out of savings and still await their relief packages.