The Minority in Parliament is demanding an apology from President Nana Akufo-Addo for what some have described as the wanton disregard for COVID-19 protocol at the funeral of former NPP General Secretary, Kwadwo Owusu Afriyie, on Thursday and Friday.
Minority Chief Whip, Mohammed-Mubarak Muntaka, said because the President was at the event that has been criticised by many Ghanaians as a potential super spreader, he must personally render an apology.
“The President owes us an apology that as a Commander-in-Chief he was there when this thing happened, I mean nothing could be said rather than for him to apologise to the rest of the country,†Mr Muntaka told said in a radio interview on Monday, June 7, 2021.
Many Ghanaians who have taken to social media to condemn the video say, apart from the failure of the multitude of people present at the funeral to adhere to the COVID-19 protocol, the Imposition of Restrictions Act still in force was also flouted.
The Imposition of Restrictions Act, 2020 (Act 1012), passed by Parliament and assented to by the President on March 21, 2020, was enacted to provide powers to the President for the imposition of restrictions in accordance with the constitutional provisions on fundamental human rights in the event or imminence of an emergency, disaster or similar circumstance to ensure public safety, public health and protection.
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This is in line with social distancing measures and restrictions the Government of Ghana has put in place against the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic in Ghana.
In exercise of this Act, the President banned all large funeral gatherings, allowing private burials consisting of not more than 25 people.
There were over 1,000 people at Sir John’s funeral.
Not long ago, some members of the Christ Embassy Church were charged for breaching Covid-19 protocols during a recent church event which hosted thousands of worshippers despite the ban on social gathering.