Kwaku Agyeman-Manu, the Health Minister-designate has hinted at the possibility of making the immunization against the “coronavirus” vaccine compulsory for all citizens in Ghana.
In response to today’s remarks, said that such discussion was still premature.
Mr. Agyeman-Manu said in a Citi News interview “If it becomes necessary, that may be a way government will go. But for now, it is a bit premature for us to predict that situation, but we will anticipate that.”
At the press conference, the health minister instead implored the citizens of Ghana to voluntarily roll out the vaccination initiative which began on March 2.
In line with the former speaker of parliament, Professor Mike Oquaye, it has been clear that a law to make people eventually avail of the newly introduced vaccines would not be implemented.
Also read: COVID-19 Vaccine: You set a good example – WHO Boss to Akufo-Addo
He also said that through public education and awareness-raising, more will come on board to take the jabs.
“It is better to go tactically. When you make the people understand what they are doing, love what they are doing, to do by their own volition, that will be better.”
“There are certain powers which one can describe as reserve powers of the state. They are reserved. You don’t just start applying them,” Prof. Oquaye said.
Some Ghanaians have expressed doubts about the safety of the vaccines, due to various misleading health information and conspiracies. To allay citizens fears, President Nana Akufo-Addo and his wife were vaccinated at a ceremony televised live on television. This was to encourage people to get vaccinated and not to believe the idea of a flawed rollout of the program.
The vaccine rollout is expected to take place in 43 high-risk districts with high infection rates. There are 25 hospitals in the Greater Accra Region, 16 hospitals in the Ashanti Region, and two hospitals in the central region. As Ghana enters the second day of the mass vaccination, it has 5,444 active cases of the virus with 607 deaths. Ghana has had 84,023 known cases of the virus in all.
Source: ATLFMONLINE
