Politics

Coronavirus has led significant number of Ghanaians jobless—Prez Nana Akufo-Addo cries

Coronavirus has led significant number of Ghanaians jobless—Prez Nana Akufo-Addo cries

The President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has expressed grievances about the number of Ghanaians who have lost their jobs as a result of the current pandemic.

According to him, a significant number of people could not sustain their jobs and are hit by economic hardship during the outbreak of the novel Coronavirus.

Significant numbers of people have, unfortunately, lost their jobs because of the impact of the virus on our economy,” he bemoaned.

Addressing the country on the measures the government has taken in combating the virus from the country on Sunday in Accra, President Akufo-Addo noted that people have lost much needed incomes that could propel their lives and the economy.

He stated that operators of trotros, taxis, buses, markets, hotels, restaurants, bars and nightclubs have lost the patronage of their clients, and, as a result, lost much needed incomes.

The President acknowledged that lots of Ghanaians had passed through difficulties over the last two months in the fight against the deadly virus and appealed to them to continue adhering to the preventive measures in order to root out the virus.

“Uncomfortable as these restrictions have been, we have no option but to stay the course. We can only guarantee the safety of each other if we continue to adhere to them,” he added.

These restrictions, Nana Akufo-Addo promised would not be a permanent feature of “our lives,” and, shortly, he would announce the steps for, systematically, easing the restrictive measures to bring the country back to normality.

He therefore called for a collaborative efforts to help speed up the process in easing the restrictive measures to revitalise the economy.

“If we continue to practice the measures of social distancing, washing our hands with soap under running water, refraining from shaking hands, and, wearing our masks whenever we leave our homes, it will speed up the process. These measures must be respected by all,” the President said.

He said his outfit was putting in place a Resilience and Recovery Plan with the aim of finding more resources to strengthen the productive sectors of the economy to ensure sustained economic activity.

In so doing, Nana Akufo-Addo  announced that a soft loan of GH¢600 million would be rolled this month, May to Small and Medium Size Enterprises (SMEs), adding that the commercial banks, with the support of the Bank of Ghana, have also instituted GH¢3 billion credit and stimulus package, to help revitalise industries, especially in the pharmaceutical, hospitality, services, and manufacturing sectors.

BY JOYCELINE NATALLY CUDJOE

Joyceline Natally Cudjoe

An Entertainment Columnist, Content Writer, Blogger, Novelist, Poet, and a Publicist. For business or story tip off, contact me on +233 24 646 6866 or email: [email protected]

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