<<Print>>

Parliamentary candidate for the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the Ayawaso West Wuogon constituency, John Dumelo has expressed disappointment at the decision by the government to lift the partial lockdown in some areas in Accra, Kasoa and Kumasi.

The candidate, in an interview on Frontline on Rainbow Radio 87.5fm, opined that the cases of covid-19 will increase due to the decision taken.

The lockdown, he explained, was imposed to prevent the spread of the deadly coronavirus and considering the number of cases recorded, it would have been prudent for authorities to have extended the lockdown.

He said the virus moves when people move and so by lifting the lockdown, you want the number of infections to increase.

In his personal view, the celebrated actor said our health facilities, personal protective equipment (PPEs) are woefully inadequate to manage an escalation of cases.

"If we don’t take care, the number of infections will increase, and when the cases increase, are we adequately prepared to manage the increase? I don’t think the lifting of the lockdown was a step in the right direction,” he added.

Also, the actor dispelled claims that the constituency is dominated by the elite. Mr. Dumelo indicated although there are some elites in the constituency, the deprived persons are more.

He pointed out the number of persons living in kiosk in the constituency are far more than those in ”big buildings”. He stressed the need for such people to be supported so they will have better opportunities.

Meanwhile, the candidate says he has put in place a structure to identify small businesses in the area and give them soft loans to expand their business. The actor says he has voted 200,000 cedis to assist struggling small scale businesses.

He observed the Covid-19 outbreak including the partial lockdown in parts of the country has negatively affected many businesses in the Ayawaso West constituency.

The amount will be disbursed to traders who are mostly engaged in ‘hands to mouth’ businesses as interest-free loans to cushion them in the midst of the deadly coronavirus which is causing businesses to flounder.