The Chief Executive Officer of the State Transport Corporation (STC), Nana Akomea has cautioned health authorities against the mandatory Covid-19 vaccination directive for all persons in the country.
The Ministry of Health has made it mandatory for all civil servants, including health workers, security personnel, and teachers, to get vaccinated against the coronavirus.
Health Minister Kwaku Agyeman-Manu in a statement said Ghana needs to implement stricter measures as COVID-19 cases in the country have reached alarming levels.
He said the declaration of December as National Vaccination Month was to enable people targeted under the mandatory vaccine policy, as well as the entire population, to get vaccinated before the policy enforcement began in January 2022.
“Under the initial implementation of the mandatory vaccine policy, certain groups of the population and patrons and workers of certain recreational and sporting venues must get vaccinated compulsorily,” he said.
This compulsory directive for all persons in the country to be vaccinated has been met with dissenting views.
The Communications Officer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Sammy Gyamfi has condemned the directive by the GHS.
"Vaccination must be by choice and not by force. The imposition of compulsory Covid-19 vaccination requirement on all Ghanaians travelling into and out of Ghana by the Ghana Health Service is reprehensible and an affront to the 1992 Constitution. And some of us are determined to fight this madness through every available legal means no matter the cost or stigma". Sammy Gyamfi said in a Facebook post.
Ningo Prampram MP, Sam George also reacting to the directive argued, in a tweet, that the "compulsory vaccination upon entry to the Republic? Infringement of rights or public health policy? This is sound public health policy and a very good step by govt. I support it and hope it is implemented vigorously. Public health considerations supersede personal liberties".
Nana Akomea, on his part, disagrees with the compulsory vaccination but subscribes to the government placing restrictions on unvaccinated persons.
He argued that to vaccinate or not vaccinate should be one's choice to make, however, for the unvaccinated person not to put himself or herself and others at risk, it is incumbent on the government to restrict their movements to places and events.
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Nana Akomea also cautioned the authorities to exercise restraint in enforcing the compulsory vaccination mandate because forcing people to take the vaccine may have legal ramifications.
That new order that you will be forced to vaccinate if care is not taken, could be tested in the Supreme Court. When we say if you don't have it [vaccinated card], you won't be permitted to enter Ghana, then the choice is still yours but the way the information came that if you don't have it, you will be vaccinated at the airport becomes a force. The option should be you will not be allowed to enter, Nana Akomea said on Peace FM.
Nana Akomea, nonetheless, advised all Ghanaians to go for the Covid-19 vaccine jab to safeguard them and the country against the coronavirus, stating though they have rights not to vaccinate, their "rights also come with responsibilities, not all rights are absolute".