The Greater Accra Division of the Ghana Medical Association (GMA) has bemoaned the non-adherence to COVID-19 safety and preventive measures by the public.

It said this was disturbing as Ghana's case count kept increasing despite efforts aimed at curtailing the pandemic.

Ghana has recorded a total of 12,590 confirmed cases, 4,410 recoveries, and a death toll of 66. The Greater Accra region remains the most affected with 7, 419 cases recorded.

This was in a press release issued by the GMA and copied to the Ghana News Agency (GNA) on Wednesday in Accra.

It said: "As we ease restrictions and learn to live with the virus, many people have regrettably relaxed their attitudes especially with regards to measures aimed at reducing the spread of the disease.

The release said a drive around many parts of the region reveals non-adherence to social distancing protocols, non-observance of hand hygiene measures, and not wearing facemasks.

These negative tendencies it said were particularly worse in areas where a lot of commercial activities take place such as the markets.

It said the much-publicized enforcement of these measures by the security agencies and local authorities that characterised the beginning of the pandemic had also been relaxed.

The GMA said cognisant of the negative effects of a worsening pandemic on the economy, the limited resources, underdeveloped healthcare system, inadequate healthcare personnel, and critical care facilities, made suggestions to curtail the situation.
It called on District, Municipal, and Metropolitan Assemblies to lead the fight in enforcing strict adherence to prescribed preventive measures by the public.

"The security agencies must be enlisted to support these measures, traditional and religious leaders such as chiefs, queen mothers, Wulomei, pastors and Imams must be engaged to support an intensified public education drive," it stated.

It said with the partial easing of restrictions to allow for some religious activities such an approach must be explored with greater vigour.

It urged that COVID-19 education in all languages using the electronic, social, and print media must be intensified and The National Commission of Civic Education (NCCE) must take the lead by roping in celebrities and influential people as icons to help drive home these preventive measures.

"Voluntary public disclosure of status must be encouraged to minimise stigma. We thus salute all affected individuals who have publicly declared their status," it added.

It reminded the public that the COVID-19 is real and must all be responsible in their dealings to protect themselves and loved ones.