Covid-19: Ablakwa Still Calling for Evacuation of Ghanaians Abroad

Member of Parliament (MP) for North Tongu, Okudzeto Ablakwa is continually mounting pressure on the Akufo-Addo Government to evacuate stranded Ghanaian nationals from countries abroad amid the covid-19 pandemic.

The Minority caucus in Parliament had earlier this year requested the government to evacuate Ghanaians living in Wuhan as precautionary measures in protecting its ‘stranded’ people. They argued that, other countries were evacuating their citizens from Wuhan hence Ghana should follow suit.

Government however did not heed to the pleas of the minority.

Ghana’s borders were consequently closed on Sunday, March 22, 2020, following an order by President Akufo-Addo as part of efforts to stop the spread of COVID-19 in the country.

The President extended the closure of the country’s borders by one month to 31st of May, 2020.

The directive has debarred the movement of persons into the country, regardless of one’s citizenship.

Okudzeto Ablakwa has however suggested that, government should negotiate with countries evacuating their citizens from the country to bring along fellow Ghanaians.

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“Still on the matter of our stranded compatriots, how about our Government engaging in high level bilateral negotiations with the Governments of the nations who are currently evacuating their nationals from Ghana to bring along fellow Ghanaians instead of our Government granting airport access to empty Aircrafts?” he said in a post on twitter.

The legislator said, Ghanaians nationals who are brought back to the country will undergo tests and self-quarantine if necessary.

He urged Ghanaians to “not give up” but continually speak on the matter to force government to comply.