• About us
  • One FM
  • Contact us
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Disclaimer
Sunday, July 3, 2022
  • Login
  • National
    • All
    • Announcement
    • Crime & Punishment
    • Education
    • Health
    • Local News
    • Obituary
    • Religious

    Ghanaian Lady grabs PhD in Mental Health

    The President of the Association, Bridget Bonnie shared the sanitary pads for young girls.

    #18Plus4NDC presents sanitary pads to young girls in Hohoe Zongo on Menstrual Hygiene Day

    5 dead, others severely injured in accident on Accra-Kumasi highway – Photos

    President Akufo-Addo meets with BBC's Peter Ōkwóchè

    E-Levy is a credible recovery programme – Akufo-Addo on BBC

    National Security Minister, Albert Kan Dapaah

    Ghana on high alert against terrorist attacks – Kan-Dapaah

    Akufo-Addo signs E-levy bill into law 2-days after passage

    Live updates: Akufo-Addo delivers SONA today

    Happy FM’s presenter Dr. Cann is dead!

    Supreme Court sets March 9 to decide on whether deputy speakers can vote in Parliament

    Trending Tags

    • Politics
      • All
      • Election Hub
      • Parliament
      • Politics
      • The Ministry

      Supreme Court restrains lawmaker Gyakye Quayson from representing Assin North in Parliament

      Parliament House of Ghana

      Parliament finally passes E-levy bill amid Minority walkout

      Minority

      We don’t support E-Levy in any form or shape – Minority

      Minority boycotts e-levy bill at consideration stage ahead of passage

      The Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin

      Gov’t may not be able to pay salaries from next 3 months – SoP discloses

      https://onefmonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/KOKU.jpg

      Asiedu Nketia betrayed me, God will punish him – Koku Anyidoho

      Joe Osei Owusu, Fomena MP selected 1st and 2nd Deputy Speakers of Parliament

      Joe Osei Owusu, Fomena MP selected 1st and 2nd Deputy Speakers of Parliament

      Alban Bagbin sworn in as new Speaker of Parliament

      Alban Bagbin sworn in as new Speaker of Parliament

      Former President and Flagbearer of NDC, John Dramani Mahama

      I won’t disturb the peace of Ghana – Mahama

      Trending Tags

      • Business
        • All
        • Agriculture & Mining
        • Banking & Finance
        • Economy & Investment
        • Energy & Power
        • Oil & Gas
        • Telecommunication
        • Trade & Forex Exchange

        FDA approves first condom marketed specifically for anal sex

        CBG rewards top fans on social media

        CBG rewards top fans on social media

        Vodafone introduces Smart Home Devices

        Vodafone introduces Smart Home Devices

        TC’s Energy, Power China sign agreement to revive Ada Foah wave energy project

        Contractors engaged by PDS demand payment for finished projects

        Kasapreko launches Puma Drinks with Metro Mass Transit

        Vodafone Ghana replaces copper installations with fibre infrastructure to boost speed

        46 workers at BOST test positive for COVID-19

        Angela Mensah-Poku, Director of Commercial and Digital Transformation

        Vodafone’s digital channels redefine customer engagement during COVID-19 and beyond

        Trending Tags

        • World
          • All
          • Asia Pacific
          • Europe
          • International
          • Latin America
          • UK & Ireland
          • US & Canada

          Teacher sentenced to death for raping 13 students

          Cardinal Peter Turkson, prefect of the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development, attends a news conference at the Vatican Dec. 21, 2021, for the release of Pope Francis' message for the Jan. 1, 2022 World Day of Peace. Cardinal Turkson downplayed his offer to Pope Francis to resign as head of the dicastery, saying he had completed his five-year term and it was up to the pope to decide what comes next. (CNS photo/Paul Haring)

          Ghanaian Cardinal Turkson appointed as new chancellor of Pontifical Academy of Sciences

          Bottles of Coca-Cola are seen at a Carrefour Hypermarket store in Montreuil, near Paris, France, February 5, 2018. REUTERS/Regis Duvignau/File Photo

          Bottler Coca-Cola HBC shuts Ukraine plant

          Nancy Pelosi arrives at the US Capitol for a veto override vote on the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) Photograph: REX/Shutterstock

          House Republicans join with Democrats to override Trump’s veto of defence bill

          Electoral college confirms Joe Biden’s presidential victory

          Electoral college confirms Joe Biden’s presidential victory

          American rapper and billionaire Kanye West and President of US Donald Trump

          Kanye West says he is running for US president

          US: George Floyd protests marred by lootings, fire

          Coronavirus: US unemployment claims hit 33.3 million amid virus

          COVID-19: Bank of England warns of biggest economic recession to hit UK

          Trending Tags

          • Art & Culture
            • All
            • Celebrity
            • ChristianGist
            • Creative Arts
            • Event
            • Hook with Kesse
            • Hot Gossip
            • Movies & Trailers
            • Music
            • People
            • Radio & TV
            • SMT
            • Tourism & Culture
            • Video

            Ghana-Jamaica Homecoming Festival launched, date set for the event

            WATCH/LISTEN: Piesie Esther celebrates 20yrs in music with new single ‘Wayɛ Me Yie’

            Gospel singer, Deaconess Piesie Esther

            WATCH: Piesie Esther teases fans with new song ‘Wayɛ Me Yie’

            Watch Teaser Video: Lady Rita sets to release a new song ‘Asembi Ayeyie’

            Abeiku Santana (right)

            VIDEO: The brand ambassador, Abeiku Santana on a breathtaking tour in the Adom City Estates

            “41 and Unstoppable” – Gospel singer, Piesie Esther celebrates birthday with stunning photos

            Abeiku Santana on an Accra city tour with the great former German National player Gerald Asamoah and an elite group of other professional German nationals

            WATCH VIDEO: Abeiku Santana takes former-German national player Gerald Asamoah for a tour around the City of Accra

            Piesie Esther bagged a nomination at Ghana Music Awards-France

            Mavis Oppong Frimpong (a.k.a. Osaah Special), Founder and CEO of Ghana Music Awards-France with Mr. Abeiku Aggrey Santana, Chairman of GMA France. [Photo by: Manuel Photography]

            Ghana Music Awards-France unveils nominees for the maiden edition – See Full list

            Trending Tags

            • Africa
              • All
              • Congo
              • Egypt
              • Inside Africa
              • Ivory Coast
              • Kenya
              • Libya
              • Nigeria
              • Rwanda
              • South Africa
              • Uganda
              President Muhammadu Buhari

              Nigeria’s COVID-19 cases exceed 40,000, death toll hits 858

              President Muhammadu Buhari

              Nigeria president suspends anti-corruption boss

              Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu

              COVID-19: Nigeria reverses resumption of schools; cancels WAEC exams

              Madagascar to send troops to town where two died of Coronavirus

              Coronavirus in South Africa: President Ramaphosa says outbreak will get worse

              Africa records over 88,000 Coronavirus cases

              Nigeria Aviation Minister Hadi Sirika

              Nigeria impounds British plane for breaking Coronavirus flight ban rules

              Madagascar President intensifies call for use of supposed COVID-19 cure after death of Malagasy

              Uganda president blasts MPs for allocating $2.6m to themselves for coronavirus sensitisation

              Trending Tags

              • Sports
                • Athletics
                • Football
                • AFCON
                • Premier League
                • FIFA WorldCup
                • Livescore
                • Boxing
                • Tennis
              • Lifestyle
                • All
                • Family & Parenting
                • Food & Drink
                • Health & Fitness
                • Love & Relationship
                • Recipes
                • Travel
                #EasterWeekendMagic: Kaya Tours 1-day unforgettable life experiential at Akosombo (PHOTOS)

                #EasterWeekendMagic: Kaya Tours 1-day unforgettable life experiential at Akosombo (PHOTOS)

                Abeiku Santana, FNB Bank and others join WWII Veteran Joseph Hammond on his Last Walk

                Kasapreko launches Puma Drinks with Metro Mass Transit

                Nana Kesse writes; Is Marriage A Prison? – See others shared their thoughts

                Old married men not worth your time – Stephanie Benson to girls

                Sriracha Bacon Fried Rice Balls

                Scalloped Potato Roll

                The Potential impact of Covid-19 pandemic on food security in Ghana

                7 signs your girlfriend doesn’t regard you enough

                Trending Tags

                • Kasapreko Alomo Bitters
                • Gym
              • G & G
                • All
                • Birthday Party
                • Fashion & Beauty
                • Pageant & Reality Show
                • Wedding

                “41 and Unstoppable” – Gospel singer, Piesie Esther celebrates birthday with stunning photos

                Zendaya, who stars in Dune and Spider-Man: No Way Home, arrives at the Oscars red carpet.
Mike Coppola/Getty Images

                Oscars 2022: See all the red carpet looks

                Gospel star Piesie Esther flaunts spotless beauty in photo

                PHOTOS: Gospel star Piesie Esther flaunts spotless beauty in photo

                COVID-19: ‘Breathless’ photos of Nana Akua Addo show she’s Ghana’s fashion goddess

                [PHOTOS] Celebrities join ‘masking for a friend’ campaign

                John Dumelo and his wife, Gifty Mawunya Nkornu

                John Dumelo, wife celebrate one year of marriage

                Trending Tags

                • Fashion Week
                • Accra Mall Fashion Weekend
                • Heels and Muscles Fashion Show
                • Africa Bikini and Accessories Fashion Show
              • Sci & Tech
                • All
                • App & Software
                • Natural Science
                • Social Media
                CEO of Tesla Motors, Elon Musk

                Elon Musk offers to buy Twitter for $41.39 billion

                Opera browser now allows emoji-only web addresses

                Snapchat will put ads within stories and share the money with creators

                Checkout a Ghanaian crowdfunding platforms, Aidhub Africa

                ReaderApp platform supporting Ghanaian publishers to monetize their books

                Checkout first ever Ghanaian Dating App by Godwin Kumah Mawuli

                Apple, Google release sample code, others for COVID-19 exposure-notification apps

                COVID-19: TikTok donates £5m to Royal College of Nursing Foundation

                Facebook launches Coronavirus Information Centre in Ghana

                Trending Tags

                • Opinions
                  • All
                  • Editors Pick
                  • Featured Article
                  • Letters

                  Eric Toscar writes: Is Kizz Daniel underrated?

                  Mcdelyt Sedinam writes; My Bead Anklets

                  CK Arthur Writes: A viewer’s perspective on 3Music Awards 22

                  Ms Ruth Eyi Adzo Dzokoto

                  Ruth Eyi Adzo Dzokoto writes: The Earth is Choking

                • COVID-19
                No Result
                View All Result
                OneFMOnline - Onefmonline.com – Top Stories, Ghana News, Politics, Business, World, Sports, Facts, Opinions, Art & Culture.
                Advertisement
                  Stream Us Live
                • National
                  • All
                  • Announcement
                  • Crime & Punishment
                  • Education
                  • Health
                  • Local News
                  • Obituary
                  • Religious

                  Ghanaian Lady grabs PhD in Mental Health

                  The President of the Association, Bridget Bonnie shared the sanitary pads for young girls.

                  #18Plus4NDC presents sanitary pads to young girls in Hohoe Zongo on Menstrual Hygiene Day

                  5 dead, others severely injured in accident on Accra-Kumasi highway – Photos

                  President Akufo-Addo meets with BBC's Peter Ōkwóchè

                  E-Levy is a credible recovery programme – Akufo-Addo on BBC

                  National Security Minister, Albert Kan Dapaah

                  Ghana on high alert against terrorist attacks – Kan-Dapaah

                  Akufo-Addo signs E-levy bill into law 2-days after passage

                  Live updates: Akufo-Addo delivers SONA today

                  Happy FM’s presenter Dr. Cann is dead!

                  Supreme Court sets March 9 to decide on whether deputy speakers can vote in Parliament

                  Trending Tags

                  • Politics
                    • All
                    • Election Hub
                    • Parliament
                    • Politics
                    • The Ministry

                    Supreme Court restrains lawmaker Gyakye Quayson from representing Assin North in Parliament

                    Parliament House of Ghana

                    Parliament finally passes E-levy bill amid Minority walkout

                    Minority

                    We don’t support E-Levy in any form or shape – Minority

                    Minority boycotts e-levy bill at consideration stage ahead of passage

                    The Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin

                    Gov’t may not be able to pay salaries from next 3 months – SoP discloses

                    https://onefmonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/KOKU.jpg

                    Asiedu Nketia betrayed me, God will punish him – Koku Anyidoho

                    Joe Osei Owusu, Fomena MP selected 1st and 2nd Deputy Speakers of Parliament

                    Joe Osei Owusu, Fomena MP selected 1st and 2nd Deputy Speakers of Parliament

                    Alban Bagbin sworn in as new Speaker of Parliament

                    Alban Bagbin sworn in as new Speaker of Parliament

                    Former President and Flagbearer of NDC, John Dramani Mahama

                    I won’t disturb the peace of Ghana – Mahama

                    Trending Tags

                    • Business
                      • All
                      • Agriculture & Mining
                      • Banking & Finance
                      • Economy & Investment
                      • Energy & Power
                      • Oil & Gas
                      • Telecommunication
                      • Trade & Forex Exchange

                      FDA approves first condom marketed specifically for anal sex

                      CBG rewards top fans on social media

                      CBG rewards top fans on social media

                      Vodafone introduces Smart Home Devices

                      Vodafone introduces Smart Home Devices

                      TC’s Energy, Power China sign agreement to revive Ada Foah wave energy project

                      Contractors engaged by PDS demand payment for finished projects

                      Kasapreko launches Puma Drinks with Metro Mass Transit

                      Vodafone Ghana replaces copper installations with fibre infrastructure to boost speed

                      46 workers at BOST test positive for COVID-19

                      Angela Mensah-Poku, Director of Commercial and Digital Transformation

                      Vodafone’s digital channels redefine customer engagement during COVID-19 and beyond

                      Trending Tags

                      • World
                        • All
                        • Asia Pacific
                        • Europe
                        • International
                        • Latin America
                        • UK & Ireland
                        • US & Canada

                        Teacher sentenced to death for raping 13 students

                        Cardinal Peter Turkson, prefect of the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development, attends a news conference at the Vatican Dec. 21, 2021, for the release of Pope Francis' message for the Jan. 1, 2022 World Day of Peace. Cardinal Turkson downplayed his offer to Pope Francis to resign as head of the dicastery, saying he had completed his five-year term and it was up to the pope to decide what comes next. (CNS photo/Paul Haring)

                        Ghanaian Cardinal Turkson appointed as new chancellor of Pontifical Academy of Sciences

                        Bottles of Coca-Cola are seen at a Carrefour Hypermarket store in Montreuil, near Paris, France, February 5, 2018. REUTERS/Regis Duvignau/File Photo

                        Bottler Coca-Cola HBC shuts Ukraine plant

                        Nancy Pelosi arrives at the US Capitol for a veto override vote on the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) Photograph: REX/Shutterstock

                        House Republicans join with Democrats to override Trump’s veto of defence bill

                        Electoral college confirms Joe Biden’s presidential victory

                        Electoral college confirms Joe Biden’s presidential victory

                        American rapper and billionaire Kanye West and President of US Donald Trump

                        Kanye West says he is running for US president

                        US: George Floyd protests marred by lootings, fire

                        Coronavirus: US unemployment claims hit 33.3 million amid virus

                        COVID-19: Bank of England warns of biggest economic recession to hit UK

                        Trending Tags

                        • Art & Culture
                          • All
                          • Celebrity
                          • ChristianGist
                          • Creative Arts
                          • Event
                          • Hook with Kesse
                          • Hot Gossip
                          • Movies & Trailers
                          • Music
                          • People
                          • Radio & TV
                          • SMT
                          • Tourism & Culture
                          • Video

                          Ghana-Jamaica Homecoming Festival launched, date set for the event

                          WATCH/LISTEN: Piesie Esther celebrates 20yrs in music with new single ‘Wayɛ Me Yie’

                          Gospel singer, Deaconess Piesie Esther

                          WATCH: Piesie Esther teases fans with new song ‘Wayɛ Me Yie’

                          Watch Teaser Video: Lady Rita sets to release a new song ‘Asembi Ayeyie’

                          Abeiku Santana (right)

                          VIDEO: The brand ambassador, Abeiku Santana on a breathtaking tour in the Adom City Estates

                          “41 and Unstoppable” – Gospel singer, Piesie Esther celebrates birthday with stunning photos

                          Abeiku Santana on an Accra city tour with the great former German National player Gerald Asamoah and an elite group of other professional German nationals

                          WATCH VIDEO: Abeiku Santana takes former-German national player Gerald Asamoah for a tour around the City of Accra

                          Piesie Esther bagged a nomination at Ghana Music Awards-France

                          Mavis Oppong Frimpong (a.k.a. Osaah Special), Founder and CEO of Ghana Music Awards-France with Mr. Abeiku Aggrey Santana, Chairman of GMA France. [Photo by: Manuel Photography]

                          Ghana Music Awards-France unveils nominees for the maiden edition – See Full list

                          Trending Tags

                          • Africa
                            • All
                            • Congo
                            • Egypt
                            • Inside Africa
                            • Ivory Coast
                            • Kenya
                            • Libya
                            • Nigeria
                            • Rwanda
                            • South Africa
                            • Uganda
                            President Muhammadu Buhari

                            Nigeria’s COVID-19 cases exceed 40,000, death toll hits 858

                            President Muhammadu Buhari

                            Nigeria president suspends anti-corruption boss

                            Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu

                            COVID-19: Nigeria reverses resumption of schools; cancels WAEC exams

                            Madagascar to send troops to town where two died of Coronavirus

                            Coronavirus in South Africa: President Ramaphosa says outbreak will get worse

                            Africa records over 88,000 Coronavirus cases

                            Nigeria Aviation Minister Hadi Sirika

                            Nigeria impounds British plane for breaking Coronavirus flight ban rules

                            Madagascar President intensifies call for use of supposed COVID-19 cure after death of Malagasy

                            Uganda president blasts MPs for allocating $2.6m to themselves for coronavirus sensitisation

                            Trending Tags

                            • Sports
                              • Athletics
                              • Football
                              • AFCON
                              • Premier League
                              • FIFA WorldCup
                              • Livescore
                              • Boxing
                              • Tennis
                            • Lifestyle
                              • All
                              • Family & Parenting
                              • Food & Drink
                              • Health & Fitness
                              • Love & Relationship
                              • Recipes
                              • Travel
                              #EasterWeekendMagic: Kaya Tours 1-day unforgettable life experiential at Akosombo (PHOTOS)

                              #EasterWeekendMagic: Kaya Tours 1-day unforgettable life experiential at Akosombo (PHOTOS)

                              Abeiku Santana, FNB Bank and others join WWII Veteran Joseph Hammond on his Last Walk

                              Kasapreko launches Puma Drinks with Metro Mass Transit

                              Nana Kesse writes; Is Marriage A Prison? – See others shared their thoughts

                              Old married men not worth your time – Stephanie Benson to girls

                              Sriracha Bacon Fried Rice Balls

                              Scalloped Potato Roll

                              The Potential impact of Covid-19 pandemic on food security in Ghana

                              7 signs your girlfriend doesn’t regard you enough

                              Trending Tags

                              • Kasapreko Alomo Bitters
                              • Gym
                            • G & G
                              • All
                              • Birthday Party
                              • Fashion & Beauty
                              • Pageant & Reality Show
                              • Wedding

                              “41 and Unstoppable” – Gospel singer, Piesie Esther celebrates birthday with stunning photos

                              Zendaya, who stars in Dune and Spider-Man: No Way Home, arrives at the Oscars red carpet.
Mike Coppola/Getty Images

                              Oscars 2022: See all the red carpet looks

                              Gospel star Piesie Esther flaunts spotless beauty in photo

                              PHOTOS: Gospel star Piesie Esther flaunts spotless beauty in photo

                              COVID-19: ‘Breathless’ photos of Nana Akua Addo show she’s Ghana’s fashion goddess

                              [PHOTOS] Celebrities join ‘masking for a friend’ campaign

                              John Dumelo and his wife, Gifty Mawunya Nkornu

                              John Dumelo, wife celebrate one year of marriage

                              Trending Tags

                              • Fashion Week
                              • Accra Mall Fashion Weekend
                              • Heels and Muscles Fashion Show
                              • Africa Bikini and Accessories Fashion Show
                            • Sci & Tech
                              • All
                              • App & Software
                              • Natural Science
                              • Social Media
                              CEO of Tesla Motors, Elon Musk

                              Elon Musk offers to buy Twitter for $41.39 billion

                              Opera browser now allows emoji-only web addresses

                              Snapchat will put ads within stories and share the money with creators

                              Checkout a Ghanaian crowdfunding platforms, Aidhub Africa

                              ReaderApp platform supporting Ghanaian publishers to monetize their books

                              Checkout first ever Ghanaian Dating App by Godwin Kumah Mawuli

                              Apple, Google release sample code, others for COVID-19 exposure-notification apps

                              COVID-19: TikTok donates £5m to Royal College of Nursing Foundation

                              Facebook launches Coronavirus Information Centre in Ghana

                              Trending Tags

                              • Opinions
                                • All
                                • Editors Pick
                                • Featured Article
                                • Letters

                                Eric Toscar writes: Is Kizz Daniel underrated?

                                Mcdelyt Sedinam writes; My Bead Anklets

                                CK Arthur Writes: A viewer’s perspective on 3Music Awards 22

                                Ms Ruth Eyi Adzo Dzokoto

                                Ruth Eyi Adzo Dzokoto writes: The Earth is Choking

                              • COVID-19
                              No Result
                              View All Result
                              OneFMOnline
                              No Result
                              View All Result
                              Home Opinions

                              Ayesha Algade Amadu writies: Lessons from COVID-19

                              Nana Kesse by Nana Kesse
                              May 3, 2020
                              12 min read
                              0
                              Share on FacebookShare on TwitterShare on WhatsApp

                              The entire world has literally come to standstill as a result of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic caused by the coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2).

                              RelatedStories

                              Ghana-Jamaica Homecoming Festival launched, date set for the event

                              July 1, 2022

                              WATCH/LISTEN: Piesie Esther celebrates 20yrs in music with new single ‘Wayɛ Me Yie’

                              June 16, 2022
                              Gospel singer, Deaconess Piesie Esther

                              WATCH: Piesie Esther teases fans with new song ‘Wayɛ Me Yie’

                              June 12, 2022

                              Some industries such as the aviation and tourism industries have been hard hit while others like manufacturers of medical equipment have seen a boom in business. Cities have been put under lockdown and many countries’ health care systems and government structures have been put to test while citizens have had to make drastic lifestyle changes in a collaborative effort in bringing this pandemic under control. “As cases of the pandemic emerged across the globe, people went into panic mode fearing what was to follow. Judging from situations in other countries such as the US with videos flooding the internet of shoppers in supermarkets, scrambling for groceries, and toiletries in order to stock up their homes, other countries watched in horror wishing and praying the virus doesn’t penetrate their territories.

                              If wishes were horses and if prayer alone could kill viruses, Ghana would never record a single COVID-19 case or death for that matter because the entire nation prayed and fasted against COVID-19. One very crucial measure the Ghana government put in place during the pandemic was a 3week lockdown in some cities with specific emphasis on physical/social distancing. Although a lockdown seemed like a step in the right direction, the economic implications for the ordinary Ghanaian made it unsustainable in the long run. While this was all in good stride, let us take a closer look at some of the recent happenings for a bit of self-reflection.

                              Food

                              We are all connected by food and part of a larger food community (https://www.slowmovement.com/cfs.php) thus, one of the major things everyone was concerned about was access to food as preparations were put in place for an announcement of a lockdown, every household rushed to the market to secure some foodstuff for the coming days.

                              What a lockdown meant for the Ghanaian populace was that there would be a shortage of labor to produce food. As we all know, marginal farming in the capital is a huge contributor to our vegetable production.

                              Thus a reduction in labour would lead to a decreased supply of certain commodities, it makes it increasingly difficult for farmers in neighbouring regions to gain access to markets due to transport restrictions, thereby, blocking the food delivery chain and inevitably increasing the cost of food items (http://www.fao.org/2019-ncov/q-and-a/impact-on-food-and-agriculture/en/?utm_content=bufferceb1f&utm_medium=social&utm_source=linkedin.com&utm_campaign=buffer).   

                              Considering the Ghanaian situation a good number of citizenry do not have the luxury of a refrigerator to store perishable foods, or even if a household owns a refrigerator, it sure isn’t large enough to keep sufficient food items for more than two weeks.

                              This got me wondering, wouldn’t it be ideal for every household to have some sort of a garden? Vegetables grown in pots or directly in the ground could be a life-saver whether you live in a flat or a house with a compound, saving one a trip to the market for basic items like pepper, okra, tomatoes etc.  which have shot up in price in the market during this pandemic.

                              In these difficult times, we must also reconsider our dietary preferences, choosing dry foods with longer shelf lives over fresh foods. We could learn to substitute proteins like fresh meat and eggs with dry foods such as pulses, dry fish, smoked meat, powdered milk, pickled vegetables, etc. in the event of a shortage of freshly harvested staple foods like cassava, plantain, and yams, we should consider processed alternatives like yam and plantain powder which can be stored for much longer periods.

                              This brings us to the issue of production which reiterates the need for factories to process our raw materials into finished products, ready for the shelves. Although the Minister for Agriculture has assured us that Ghana has enough food in store despite the outbreak, we do not know for certain how long the stocks will last (https://citinewsroom.com/2020/04/covid-19-food-prices-are-cheaper-now-agric-minister-claims/).

                              In spite of the assurance of food security, we cannot be assured of economic security as many have lost their daily bread as a result of COVID-19. Regardless of the scale of production, going forward, it would be prudent for us to learn some gardening in order to sustain our families and communities so we do not have to queue for hours for aid in the form of cooked or raw food.

                              Production

                              Another measure put in place to curb the further spread of the virus was the closure of borders across many countries. Ghana followed suit soon after the first cases of COVID-19 were recorded. Closing up borders meant there was a cut in the supply of logistics necessary to fight against the pandemic. This has led to the shortage of items such as gloves, hand sanitizers, nose masks, and PPE across the country, bringing to light our shortfalls in the area of production as there was a surge in demand for surgical masks and hand sanitizers. This taught us another crucial lesson – to be self-sufficient and learn to manufacture more than we import.

                              Necessity they say is the mother of inventions. Impressively, several entities came up with innovative ideas to help fill in this gap.

                              For instance, the Greater-Accra regional hospital (Ridge hospital) came up with locally manufactured nose masks, as well as other private individuals who started making nose masks out of ankara print fabrics. Production of rubbing alcohol, soaps, and hand sanitizers also increased, as the FDA fast-tracked the registration of tons of products for the fight against COVID-19 (https://citinewsroom.com/2020/04/fda-approves-327-hand-sanitizers-for-covid-19-fight-full-list/). My question is, why were we importing foreign brands like Purell and Carex all this while when we could make our own? Perhaps we needed an iota of push from a 125 nm virus.

                              A wake-up call

                              Brilliant ideas came from genius minds such as Mr. Selorm Agbo and a team from the Academic City University who designed prototypes of a ventilator and Mr. Richard Kwarteng who invented the solar-paneled automated hand-washing machine.

                              Very commendable achievement, especially with the fast-tracked approval of the Ghana Standards Authority (GSA) for mass production of the hand-washing machine. Many others followed such as the KNUST ventilator (https://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/NewsArchive/KNUST-demonstrates-working-operation-of-locally-made-ventilator-930886), and the KNUST-INCAS diagnostics’ Rapid COVID-19 diagnostic test. (https://allafrica.com/stories/202004290730.html), Local PPE production (https://www.africaglobalradio.com/local-companies-make-progress-in-ppe-production-for-covid-19-fight/), Not forgetting the increased number of testing centres including the Biomedical and Public Health Unit of the CSIR-Water Research Institute, University of Health and Allied Sciences and the Tamale Teaching Hospital, to augment the overwhelmed KCCR and Noguchi testing centres.

                              News like these makes you proud to be Ghanaian at that moment. Then suddenly, reality hits you and you begin to ask more analytical questions like what percentage of the materials used in the production of these “locally made” items are actually sourced from Ghana? So that, should this pandemic continue for a longer period, and our borders remain closed, are we still able to produce these innovations on a large scale? For instance, the wiring, the batteries, solar panels, the metal frames, the plastic tubes, the rapid test cassettes, etc.

                              Can we do without importing any part and still manufacture quality products in a timely manner? I ask these questions because I do not know of any factory in Ghana that manufactures batteries for instance, which are needed in some of these innovations.

                              On the bright side, the current proactive spirit the nation has adopted says a lot about what we are capable of achieving as a nation. Henceforth we should trust our scientists to develop equipment of international standards instead of resorting to expensive imported equipment that becomes white elephants in a short time due to lack of maintenance.

                              If the equipment is locally manufactured, local technicians can keep up maintenance works when they break down. It would be nice to see researchers across the country collaborating to form companies like Dyson, Omron, Philips, and the like, carpenters, and welders working together to form companies like IKEA instead of the mini roadside production that is so common. By doing this, the government can easily assign contracts to reputable local companies for hospital beds, medical equipment, and so on.

                              Organized communities

                              Due to the nature of our style of building and our community structure, there is very little that can be done to regulate movement in and out of our communities. In an ideal setting, communities should have strict demarcations as to where they begin and end, with a physical border/barrier – thus, giving a sense of a gated community.

                              Details of residents or visitors will be recorded as and when they enter and leave the communities. This would make contact tracing more efficient and ensure people adhere to lockdown measures. However, let us bear in mind that many Ghanaians live in neighborhoods with little or no specific community structure, making it difficult for any kind of proper organization. It is about time we paid closer attention to structuring our communities such that, at any point in time, we have a fair idea of the residents at a particular place and time.

                              Rent laws in Ghana state that a tenant is to pay a maximum of 6 months’ advanced rent, however, this is not adhered to. In many instances, homeowners demand as much as 1-2years advance payment. It is very difficult to regulate this law as the housing deficit stands at $2million units (https://propertytrendsonline.com/housing-deficit-in-ghana-can-social-housing-be-the-solution/).

                              There is little intervention from the government to provide homes for the average Ghanaian, thus subjecting tenants to unfair tenancy agreement terms and forcing people to live in make-shift structures in crowded communities. I bring this to light because many countries instructed landlords not to collect rent for about 3 months during this pandemic or at least reduce the rent. How does a country like Ghana take up such an initiative when a tenant has already paid their rent in full for a year or more?

                              On top of it all, many of these facilities do not meet the standard of living per government requirement. Basic facilities such as a toilet and a bath are lacking in some of these houses put up for rent, forcing the tenant to use public toilets on a daily basis.

                              How can a government enforce a total lockdown when something as basic as a toilet can only be accessed some distance away from one’s home? Research has shown that stool samples from COVID-19 patients were positive for viral RNA (https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2020/04/how-does-coronavirus-kill-clinicians-trace-ferocious-rampage-through-body-brain-toes?utm_campaign=news_daily_2020-04-17&et_rid=456886168&et_cid=3290441#). Meaning people who have to use a public toilet on a daily basis are at a higher risk of contracting the disease from these facilities which are already poorly managed.

                              Amenities like water, gas, and electricity which should be available within a home is like a luxury to many Ghanaians. How can citizens obey lockdown rules when some communities do not enjoy running tap water? Many people have to go out to fetch water in head pans or buckets for daily use, as well as buy charcoal in bits for daily food preparation. Others who are more fortunate also have to go out from time to time, to buy LPG gas in a portable cylinder for cooking purposes. I look forward to a time where the average Ghanaian will have LPG flowing through their cooking burners in their homes just like water is supposed to flow through their taps.

                              Waste segregation

                              The manner in which we handle waste in Ghana is appalling. A huge percentage of Ghanaians do not or cannot segregate their waste. How does a COVID-19 patient in home isolation ensure that his/her used tissue is disposed-off properly, there is no labeling, no sorting on a household level nor during waste collection by the garbage collectors.

                              Apart from hospitals that have a system in place to incinerate medical waste, (service available at the Industrial Research Institute of the CSIR (http://www.csir-iir.com/), everything is thrown into the truck and sent away to the landfill. Our landfills are over-flooded with items that are recoverable, recyclable, or reusable. However, the reverse happens. You find people scrambling the landfills, in search of scrap metal, plastics, glass, etc. I believe there are better ways we can handle our waste in order to ease the pressure on our landfills which are already overwhelmed especially in this pandemic. Imagine people being exposed to COVID-19 while rummaging through bins for something to recover.

                              National database

                              One way China conquered the pandemic was through intensive contact tracing using artificial intelligence such as facial recognition and surveillance cameras to track down individuals who had come into contact with a person confirmed to have COVID-19.

                              The timing was everything. These traced individuals were contacted and isolated to truncate the further spread of the virus in a timely manner. I imagine the ease with which everything adds up in a country like China where netizens travel with their national ID cards and are required to register at the local police station within 24 hours of moving into a city. At every point in time, your whereabouts are known.

                              Our situation in Ghana doesn’t allow for such swift responses as we do not have surveillance cameras in our public transport systems, nor do we keep records of citizen’s movements. When someone moves into a community, there’s no way to tell that individual A is currently residing in community X, House No. 123.

                              There’s just no way to tell. The lack of records of people’s whereabouts and their permanent and temporary addresses makes it extremely difficult to gather crucial data to run a nation. When cases of COVID-19 dwindled in Wuhan, and life began to return to the city, authorities lifted lockdown measures but with a LOT of precautions. China made good use of data to regulating people’s lives by setting up a system where you are assigned a colour code (green, yellow, or red) that indicates their health status using a mobile app. The software determines whether someone should be quarantined or allowed into public places and this has been adopted by over 200 cities in China so far (https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/01/business/china-coronavirus-surveillance.html).

                              These are some of the measures China has adopted to overcome the situation. Can Ghana do the same? Mathematical models could be used to tackle this pandemic more efficiently, however, the data is unavailable. The population of Ghanaians capable of using such software is too little to make such a system work.

                              Something as basic as distribution of food to the vulnerable has proven to be a challenge, all because there’s not enough data to work with. I see the food-sharing fiasco as a failure and one of the flaws that could undermine every other countermeasure during this pandemic. Specifically the social distancing protocol.

                              E-money

                              Ghana is one of the sub-Saharan countries with a fast-growing electronic money system since the introduction of services such as mobile money and various mobile banking platforms. E-transactions have reduced the need to queue in banks for basic money transfers.

                              Although Ghanaians are gradually learning to fully accept e-money, many are still skeptical over accepting e-cash as an accepted form of payment due to dubious scammers who always seem to be ahead of the game. Ideally, in dire times such as these, e-cash would have been another measure to reduce the spread of the virus, however, due to the lack of a uniform payment platform, you still find people handling physical cash because many service providers refuse to accept e-cash due to its numerous inconveniences.

                              For instance, even if a vendor is willing to accept e-cash, you might not use the same service provider, disallowing you to transact business effortlessly. Moving forward, government and Telecommunication companies need to put more measures in place in order for the Ghanaian populace to fully embrace a cashless system.

                              My mind travels to the COVID-19 positive market women who use public toilet facilities in the market, handing cash to customers such as food vendors from whom we buy food. I hope you know where this is heading? It is very unlikely that one will remember to sanitize or wash their hands every time they handle money. The money goes into your purse or wallet, touching keys, bank and ID cards, etc.

                              There are conflicting views of exactly how long the virus can survive on surfaces. While scientists are doing their part, we should also play our role in beating this virus without getting complacent.

                              Let us not rush to imagine life after COVID-19 without doing an introspective analysis of ourselves as individuals and as a nation during this pandemic. Instead, let us learn to be more self-sustaining as a nation. So that we do not necessarily import food or other items we can clearly produce on our own or throw everything in the garbage. Instead, let us learn to reduce our waste by for instance using kitchen waste for compost, properly disposing of off hazardous materials like old batteries, expired chemicals or drugs, etc.

                              We need better transport systems such as passenger trains which will allow people to commute easily between cities, thereby reducing urban migrations, as well as cargo trains which can transport foodstuff to markets faster, hence, reducing spoilage. From an environmental point of view, there would be fewer emissions, less traffic, and as a result, a reduced carbon footprint. I miss the fresh air I could boldly inhale while Accra was on lockdown. There were less vehicular traffic and fewer emissions.

                              We have to take another look at our housing policy such that estate developers begin to factor in rainwater harvesting systems as part of their housing plans to help reduce the occurrence of flooding especially in the capital as well augment the services provided by Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL). Considering the fact that some communities do not yet enjoy the services of GWCL, having multiple sources of water in a home can be so convenient especially in dry season with its attendant scanty water supply leading to technical challenges for the GWCL. When the president announced that Ghanaians would enjoy free water for three months https://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/NewsArchive/Ghanaians-to-enjoy-free-water-for-3-months-915178, not everyone jubilated because some people could not relate to this “luxury” while many wondered if their taps would even flow at all. I guess we will find out after all this is over.

                              Moving forward, we should consider rooftop gardening for people who live in flats or backyard gardening for people with ample space in their compounds or community gardens and farmers’ markets. This could help bring life back into our communities and our ecosystem through community food systems.

                              I believe the calling off of the lockdown was based on economic reasons more than anything.  Inevitably leaving us to our fate. With our current numbers COVID-19 cases up to 2,074 and counting, it is up to you and I to stay woke and protect ourselves from this mutating virus. Until a cure is found, all we can do is to stay safe and survive. Staying at home shouldn’t mean starving to death. Let’s get up, and make something out of this crisis for surely, this isn’t going to be the last pandemic we witness in our lifetime.

                              –

                              The author is a principal Research Technologist at the CSIR- Water Research Institute, Accra and currently a Ph.D. student of the Nanjing University of Science and Technology – China, studying Environmental Science and Engineering

                              Share this:

                              • Facebook
                              • Twitter
                              • WhatsApp
                              • Telegram
                              • LinkedIn
                              • Tumblr
                              • Reddit
                              • Print

                              Like this:

                              Like Loading...

                              Related

                              Via: Ayesha Algade Amadu
                              Tags: Ayesha Algade AmaduCOVID-19Ghana newsLessons from COVID-19

                              News is under threat …

                              Please we kindly need your support so we can keep delivering quality journalism that’s open and independent. And that is here for the long term. Every reader contribution, however big or small, is so valuable to us. Support One FM Online from as little as $1 via Mobile Money on +233244078920 – and it only takes a minute. Thank you.

                              ADVERTISEMENT
                              Previous Post

                              Of the national cathedral and 88 new hospitals

                              Next Post

                              Coronavirus: WHO cautions Madagascar over ‘herbal cure’

                              Next Post

                              Coronavirus: WHO cautions Madagascar over ‘herbal cure’

                              Leave a Reply Cancel reply

                              ADVERTISEMENT

                              Like Us On Facebook

                              Like Us On Facebook
                                OneFMOnline – Onefmonline.com – Top Stories, Ghana News, Politics, Business, World, Sports, Facts, Opinions, Art & Culture.

                                Follow Us

                                Information

                                Privacy policy Submit Article
                                Sitemap Advetisement
                                Poll & survey Premier league
                                Comments feed One TV Ghana
                                Livescores Donate to support

                                Recent Posts

                                • Ghana-Jamaica Homecoming Festival launched, date set for the event
                                • WATCH/LISTEN: Piesie Esther celebrates 20yrs in music with new single ‘Wayɛ Me Yie’
                                • WATCH: Piesie Esther teases fans with new song ‘Wayɛ Me Yie’

                                Newsletter

                                Subscribe to Email Updates

                                Subscribe to receives daily updates and news direct to your inbox!

                                *We promise we won't spam you.

                                • About
                                • Advertise
                                • Privacy & Policy
                                • Contact

                                © 2020 One FM Online - All Rights Reserved - Developed By EMetrics.

                                No Result
                                View All Result
                                • National
                                • Politics
                                • Business
                                • World
                                • Art & Culture
                                • Africa
                                • Sports
                                  • Athletics
                                  • Football
                                  • AFCON
                                  • Premier League
                                  • FIFA WorldCup
                                  • Livescore
                                  • Boxing
                                  • Tennis
                                • Lifestyle
                                • G & G
                                • Sci & Tech
                                • Opinions
                                • COVID-19

                                © 2020 One FM Online - All Rights Reserved - Developed By EMetrics.

                                Welcome Back!

                                Login to your account below

                                Forgotten Password?

                                Create New Account!

                                Fill the forms bellow to register

                                All fields are required. Log In

                                Retrieve your password

                                Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

                                Log In

                                Add New Playlist

                                %d bloggers like this: