President Akufo-Addo has indicated that government management of the Coronavirus pandemic has been exemplary.
He said though of the coronavirus exposed other shortcomings of the country, government’s decisive measures have been recognised globally.
While delivering the 2022 State of the Nation Address (SONA) in Parliament on Wednesday, President Akufo-Addo stated that measures put in place amidst the fight of the Covid-19 disease, have been one of the best in the world.
“We could not have been prepared for the catastrophe that hit us. Even the richest economies with the most sophisticated structures were unprepared. Maybe some of us have forgotten what the experts were predicting at the time. Our health and medical infrastructure were woefully inadequate and we would not be able to cope, there were going to be piles of dead bodies strewn across the streets of Africa.
“We’ve had our fair share of the Covid denials and conspiracy theories, but it is fair to say, Mr Speaker, that our management of the Covid-19 outbreak has been exemplary. It has been so acclaimed by the world. With the great mercies of the Almighty, we have saved lives,” he stated.
He added “I remember a year ago; we were in the midst of the second wave of Covid infections and deaths. there was widespread fear; again, there was consensus we should concentrate all attention and resources on protecting lives.”
“We had to learn some very hard lessons, and our belief in the need to be self-sufficient was reinforced when vaccine nationalism was played out blatantly by the rich and powerful countries.”
The President also said government have embarked on the manufacturing of Covid-19 vaccines to ensure that they are produced locally.
“Mr Speaker, the Presidential Vaccine Manufacturing Committee, which I set up to respond to this obvious deficiency, has put in place a comprehensive strategy for domestic vaccine production, and the establishment of a National Vaccine Institute to implement the strategy, which will enable us to begin the first phase of commercial production in January 2024”
“A bill will shortly be brought to you, in this House, for your support and approval for the establishment of the National Vaccine Institute.”
