The Communications Director of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), Sammy Gyamfi says President Akufo-Addo is largely driven by political expediency in lifting the lockdown restrictions “prematurely”.

“It is clearly a politically-motivated decision, calculated to allow the EC the space to undertake its entrenched and illogical determination to compile a new voters’ register for the 2020 general elections and nothing more.

“Either than that, why will President Akufo-Addo impose a partial lockdown with the objective of halting the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic in the country, at a time we had only recorded 137 cases across just four (4) regions of the country and with 5 deaths, but turn around to lift the partial lockdown, at a time our positive case count has galloped to 1,042, across ten (10) regions and with nine (9) deaths?, ” he questioned in a Facebook post.

President Akufo-Addo has lifted the three-week partial lockdown imposed on the Greater Accra, Kumasi, Kasoa and Tema areas effective Monday, April 20, 2020.

“I must make it clear that lifting these restrictions does not mean, we’re letting our guard down,” the President noted in a televised broadcast on Sunday, adding all other measures are firmly in place and has not been relaxed.

Some sections of the public are quite apprehensive of the quick decision taken by the President to lift the Lockdown restrictions saying it’s premature in the day.

Adding his voice to the barrage of reactions, Mr Sammy Gyamfi said: "Countries with far lower cases have not lifted or relaxed their lockdown restrictions. Yet, we who are currently the country with the highest COVID-19 cases in West Africa, have against expert advice, lifted our partial lockdown. Doesn’t this defy science and commonsense?"

“President Akufo-Addo’s decision to lift the lockdown at this crucial time, is a reckless political gamble that portends great danger for this nation. Ghanaians must never forgive him if this unimaginable decision exacerbates our COVID-19 situation. The blame for any fatality that is occasioned by this reckless decision must lie squarely with the President.

“What the President has essentially done, is to place political expediency ahead of Public safety. And what that shows, is that human lives don’t matter to President Akufo-Addo” he argued.