COVID-19: Akufo-Addo’s Own NIA Flouting His Directives On Public Gathering – Asiedu Nketia

General Secretary of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), Johnson Asiedu Nketia has complained about the behavior of the National Identification Authority (NIA) led by Professor Kenneth Attefuah for flouting President Akufo-Addo’s directives on public gathering.The Akufo-Addo led government has announced a ban on church-related activities, mosques prayers, and all other public gatherings.

President Akufo-Addo made this bold declaration Sunday evening, as part of measures to stop the spread of coronavirus in the country.

In his second national address on the Coronavirus update, President Akufo-Addo said; “all public gatherings including conferences, workshops, funerals, festivals, political rallies, sporting events and religious events such as services in churches and mosques have been suspended.”

President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo said the ban will be in force for the “next four weeks”, following the six confirmed cases of COVID-19 that have been recorded in the country within a few days.

But the National Identification Authority (NIA) on another hand according to the NDC Chief Scribe has also come up with plans to continue with the registration of the Ghana Card despite the firm directives from President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.

Commenting on Okay FM’s ‘Ade Akye Abia’ Morning Show, General Mosquito as affectionately called wondered why the NIA will continue to carry out the mass registration exercise amidst the warning from the President against public gathering.

“I don’t understand why NIA is still registering people for the Ghana Card . . .  If the President can give directives and his own department can flout them, then we all live to see,” he said.

He, however, explained the President can exercise emergency powers in times of war as a situation like the outbreak of the novel coronavirus is tantamount to a war declared on the country; hence, the President can issue certain directives guided by certain principles within the law.