Correspondence from Upper East Region

Member of Parliament (MP) for Tempane, Joseph Dindiok Kpemka, has instructed that no one from the constituency should put his picture or the picture of the President or any other politician seeking election to a public office, on donations meant for the fight against the Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19).

Mr. Kpemka, who spoke in very strong words against the act, has called for non-politicization of efforts and donations in the fight against the pandemic, adding that donations in these critical times should be given whole-heartedly and in good faith and not for political gains.

Mr. Kpemka, who was speaking during a brief ceremony to present some sanitary equipment he and the District Assembly had put together to support the Health Directorate in the area to combat the spread of the COVID-19, told Journalists that such an act would not be allowed to hurt the vision of the President in ensuring that Ghanaians are health and free from the infection.

“I have gone on air and stated categorically that we do not want the politicization of the presentation that we are making. Because we are not doing a political campaign. We are not doing politics. We are out to carry out the vision of his excellency the president of the republic to ensure that Ghanaians, particularly the people of Tempane district are healthy.

“So We’ve given a very stern warning that no one should put pictures of myself or the president or any person aspiring into public office by way of election on any of the items for distribution. It is a very strict instruction that we have given”.

Mr. Kpemka assured the people of the government's commitment to fight the deadly disease without any form of political colourisation. He urged the stakeholders in the district who would be directly involved in the distribution of the supplies to do that devoid of political tags.

The MP commended the district health personnel and especially the security agencies for their efforts in ensuring that foreigners do not infiltrate Ghana’s borders to compound the spread. He assured that all needed resources will be provided to ensure their smooth operations.

He appealed to Non-Governmental Organizations (NGO) and benevolent individuals to support the district fight the disease and urged the people to follow all laid down precautionary protocols such as social distancing, hand washing and avoid unhygienic environments.

The District Chief Executive (DCE), Paul Azumah Abugri, explaining how the items would be distributed, said some would be placed in the nine markets within the district where they would be entrusted in the care of the market leaders.

He continued that other institutions such as the Police Service, Palaces of traditional leaders and the Assemblymen would also be given some of the sanitary equipment.

The MP, DCE and staff of the Assembly and the health directorate after the presentation toured some of the markets and held brief discussions on disease prevention and demonstrated the process of proper hand washing to the public.