Lockdown Matters: Coronavirus And Unsanitized Profits

After Nana Addo’s announcement on coronavirus lockdown, I’ve become so disappointed in my fellow Ghanaians. I went shopping ahead of the lockdown and saw unsanitized profits and greed everywhere I passed. Even my favourite shop’s owner, Auntie Ama showed me pepper.

This is the same auntie Ama who used to treat me extra special when I don’t carry enough money to her shop. “Don’t worry my dear, you can bring the 1 Ghana Cedis tomorrow if the money is not up to the price”, she would insist. And when I brought her money to her the next day, she was always disappointed. “Ah! but you paa, so you really brought it; keep it”, she would say.

Unsanitized Profits & Preparing for lockdown

Aunty Ama’s supermarket was my favourite until Mr Coronavirus reared its ugly head into Ghana. As at today, her prices are exceptionally high and I can speculate it is due to unsanitized profits. If you love your life, don’t go to her to buy veronica bucket, sanitizer, rubbing alcohol, orange, lime or any foodstuff. You’ll hear the chorus ‘I don’t have this; I don’t have that’; or ‘the price for this product has increased o; will you still buy?’

I went to Aunty Ama’s to purchase the hand sanitizer which we used to buy at GHS 2.50. Today, Aunty Ama says its GHS 5.00.

“Eii Aunty Ama! Was the hand sanitizer not 2.50peswas a week ago” I said.
Aunty Ama never made eye contact. Now it is as though she does not recognize me.

“You can go to other shops and pharmacies; sanitizers nu ashorti (sanitizers are out of stock)” she said. Lowkey, I could smell the handiwork of unsanitized profits.

I was curious enough to ask, “what’s the price of one olonka of gari”. The woman said ‘GHS 18.00’. The same gari olanka I buy at GHS 7 is now GHS 18.

I thought in this season of Coronavirus, we all should have been our brothers’ keepers. Well, I was totally wrong.

I am confused. Should I give out my last GHS 2.50 hoping she will tell me to come pay the next day and leave believing in the words she has used to label her shop: “Yehowa ne me hwefo” (Jehovah is my shepherd).

This is what coronavirus and its related lockdown can do to us as human beings. Yet, these same vendors making unsanitized profits in the market will do church service online. Wickedness in high places.

Myths about Lockdown and self-isolation

Myth: There is a national lockdown and the whole of Ghana will be quarantined for two weeks.

Fact: President Nana Akufo-Addo on Friday, March 27, 2020, declared a partial lockdown of Accra and Kumasi effective 1 am on Monday, March 30, 2020. The lockdown which affects Accra, Tema and Kumasi will last for two weeks. The decision, according to the President is to help curb the spread of COVID-19 which has led to four deaths and infected some 137 people.

Myth: If I leave the lockdown zone to my hometown, I won’t get the infection.

Fact: Don’t move an inch; remember, if you move, the virus moves.

Myth: Due to the 2-week lockdown, I need to stockpile as many groceries and supplies as I can.

Fact: Please and please again; only buy what your family needs for a week. Be considerate in your shopping as there are many families who may be unable to buy a supply of food and water.

Myth: The whole of Greater Accra is on lockdown

Fact: In Greater Accra, the following municipalities will be affected: 1. Accra; 2. Tema; 3. Tema West; 4. Ledzokuku; 5. Krowor; 6. Adentan; 7. Ashiaman; 8. La-Nkwantanang-Madina; 9. La-Dade-Kotopon ; 10. Okaikwei North; 11. Ablekuma North; 12. Ablekuma West; 13. Ablekuma Central; 14. Ayawaso East; 15. Ayawaso North; 16. Ayawaso West; 17. Ayawaso Central 18. Ga West; 19. Ga North; 20. Ga Central; 21. Ga South; 22. Ga East; 23. Korle-Klottey; 24. Weija/Gbawe; 25. Kpone Katamanso; and 26. Awutu Senya East.

Myth: The whole of the Ashanti Region too is on lockdown

Fact: In the Kumasi Metropolitan Area and contiguous districts, the following metropolises are affected:

1. Kumasi; 2. Asokwa; 3. Suame; 4. Old Tafo; 5. Oforikrom; 6. Asokore Mampong; 7. Kwadaso; 8. Atwima Nwabiagya; 9. Kwabre East; 10. Ejisu; 11. Afigya-Kwabre South District; 12. Bosomtwi District; 13. Atwima Kwanwoma District; and 14. Atwima Nwabiagya North District.

Thinking Aloud

Before you buy a sanitizer, check if it has at least 60% alcohol base.
Washing hands with warm water and soap remain the gold standard for hand hygiene. It prevents the spread of infectious diseases.
If hands are visibly dirty, hand washing with soap and water is more effective than using alcohol-based hand sanitisers.
Again, when we sneeze or cough into our hands, it requires more than just a pump of hand sanitiser to disinfect them. Because hand sanitizer cannot control the contamination with mucous. Think about it!