The President of Ghana, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo on the 19th of April, 2020 lifted a 3-week partial lockdown placed on Greater Kumasi, Accra, and Kasoa which formed part of measures put in place to control the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The President in his 7th address to the nation indicated that though the lockdown had been lifted, all other directives put in place to fight the virus were still in effect.

Immediately after the President’s announcement that evening, videos circulating on social media showed some Ghanaians hitting the streets to jubilate over the lockdown lift. With a lot more people moving to the markets and other public places the next day with disregard to other preventive measures against the virus.

Founder of the All People’s Congress (APC) and candidate of the People’s National Convention for the December 2012 presidential elections, Hassan Ayariga, has compared Ghanaians to a bunch of animals for acting that way.

In an interview on Happy98.9FM’s ‘Epa Hoa Daben’ with host, Afrifa Mensah, the Politician mentioned, “After the lockdown was lifted Ghanaians rushed to town like caged animals freed from their cages”.

According to him, the behavior of Ghanaians after the lockdown lift was similar to freeing animals kept in a cage for a long time. “On the day you open them, they run out like crazy to enjoy their temporal freedom. Ghanaians acted like wild animals and they went to town”.

On his authority, though citizens can be faulted for behaving irresponsibly, the government is equally responsible for their actions and inactions. He explained that to Ghanaians, the lifting of the lockdown was “a symbol to the nation that we have fought COVID-19 out of the country” but that was not the case.

The President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has been heavily criticized for lifting the lockdown placed on the country to help fight the COVID-19 pandemic 2 weeks ago. Some have disputed the President’s scientific based claim for lifting the lockdown.

Confirmed coronavirus cases in Ghana surged above 2,000, increasing 24% in a matter of days after the lockdown was lifted. Currently, Ghana has recorded 2,719 cases of COVID-19 with 294 recoveries and 18 deaths.