The new normal is not all normal?
The new normal is after all not all normal. It is not normal to live in the indignity of poverty and disease.
I'm thinking of the Ghana living Standard indices that are going to get a big hit from the economic impact of COVID-19.
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For example, the statistics from the Ghana Living Standards Survey (GLSS6) 2019 show that 23.4% of the population are persons living below one US dollar (5.3 Ghana cedis) a day.
In the post COVID-19 normal, this is expected to get worse.
That is, more people are expected to move into the group of those who live on less than one dollar a day!
Most of these poor people belong to the informal sector and would normally go out there day by day to eke out a living.
They are a good proportion of the informal sector.
And the informal sector players constitute about 75% to 80% of the national economy.
The bad news is that the economic impact of COVID-19 will lead to more people living in poverty in the new normal.
Nearly 90 millionaires from seven countries being called “Millionaires for Humanity”, in a document released this week concerning the impact of COVID-19, have observed, “The impact of this crisis will last for decades.
It could push half a billion more people into poverty.
“Hundreds of millions of people will lose their jobs as businesses close, some permanently.
And of course, the absence of hospital beds, protective masks, and ventilators is a painful, daily reminder of the inadequate investment made in public health systems across the world.”
They did not only comment on the economic and other challenges we face in the new normal, they have responded: “As COVID-19 strikes the world, millionaires like us have a critical role to play in healing our world.
No, we are not the ones caring for the sick in intensive care wards.
We are not driving the ambulances that will bring the ill to hospitals.
“We are not restocking grocery store shelves or delivering food door to door. But we do have money, lots of it. Money that is desperately needed now and will continue to be needed in the years ahead, as our world recovers from this crisis.”
“We millionaires ask our governments to raise taxes on people like us. Immediately. Substantially. Permanently.
“The problems caused by, and revealed by, COVID-19 can’t be solved with charity, no matter how generous. Government leaders must take responsibility for raising the funds we need and spending them fairly.
“We should ensure we adequately fund our health systems, schools, and security through a permanent tax increase on the wealthiest people on the planet, people like us. So please. Tax us. Tax us. Tax us. It is the right choice.”
The group has spoken. What will be some of the home-grown responses and actions in dealing with the indignity of poverty in sections of our population?
We have enough socio-economic wisdom in Ghana. We must pull our minds and all hands together to respond to the abnormal of the post COVID-19 “normal” in our country.
We want a better Ghana. We want the national standard of living indices to improve significantly.
What does Jesus think about the prospects, opportunities, and challenges of a post COVID-19 era?
How would Jesus respond to the poor and marginalised?
The Lord Jesus says: “I was naked, and you gave me clothing. I was sick, and you cared for me. I was in prison, and you visited me.” Mathew 25:36.
“You are the salt of the earth. But what good is salt if it has lost its flavour? Can you make it salty again? It will be thrown out and trampled underfoot as worthless. Mathew 13, 16
“My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.” John 10:10b.
What would the churches and believers do to live out the way of Jesus on these matters?
Jesus’ own thinking on responding to the poor and helping people to live a proper functional life would be a guide to how believers and churches respond now and into the post COVID-19 future!
The Bible also says: “Their only suggestion was that we keep on helping the poor, which I have always been eager to do.” Galatians 2:10
There is a huge scientific research and search for an effective vaccine for the coronavirus disease.
It involves incredibly significant financial resources.
The vaccine will be a new normal. However, sadly, large populations in Africa face hunger, poverty and are inflicted with endemic malaria disease.
There are estimated 214 million new cases of malaria each year, with annual deaths of 438,000.
This public health scourge is not new. But no vaccine has been developed for malaria – Africa’s biggest killer.
In the post COVID-10 efforts at scientific renaissance in Africa, we must see developing a vaccine for malaria a critical priority.
As the Scriptures say, 2 Corinthians 9:9: “They share freely and give generously to the poor. Their good deeds will be remembered forever.”
(The writer is a Consultant in Spirituality and Authentic Discipleship, an International Conference Speaker and former CEO of Scripture Union, ([email protected])