I have observed with great surprise and pain how certain developments are likely to land the deadly Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) in the country .
Latest statistics show that the Ebola virus has so far claimed more than 4,500 lives. I was completely surprised one Monday morning to hear on the BBC that as many as 120 people had been killed by Ebola the previous Saturday in Sierra Leone alone; that is like a whole village.
The speed with which the disease is spreading and killing people makes it even scarier than the thought of dying in a road accident. The other day, I heard a story (joke) of a woman who fell ill with fever and flu-like symptoms. Scared of the Ebola infection, she rushed to the hospital for diagnosis and treatment. She was taken through the usual routines in the consulting room and the laboratory. When she was told that her sickness was caused by HIV infection, the lady jumped in joy and started singing praises to God for His blessings and delivering her from Ebola. The rationale for this story is simple; HIV has an antidote called anti-retroviral drugs that can keep you alive for a long time but Ebola has no cure and can kill you within days.
Ebola strains family relations
Since the outbreak of the disease in the West African sub-region, life has not been the same. Family members cannot sit close to each other. They cannot shake hands. They cannot touch or hug one another. Even husbands are getting scared of sleeping on the same bed with their wives who may be suffering from a common flu. Not to talk about cultural and traditional rites which could not be performed on bodies before laying them to rest. Ebola is, indeed, an attack on our culture as Africans. It has the ability to wipe out a whole generation. This is why we must all be on the alert to ensure that Ghana does not smell a single incidence of Ebola. It is a great relief that all the suspected cases have proved negative so far.
Thanks to the foresight of His Excellency President John Dramani Mahama, the country has rolled out several public education initiatives and preventive measures to ensure we are not caught unawares. Also, despite the media's sensationalism and the near wish for Ebola to reach Ghana, our God has spared us so far. But the Prophesy of Archbishop Nicholas Duncan Williams is scaring many of most us (Ghanaians).
Nevertheless, it appears the government through its Ministry of Youth and Sports is courting the Ebola Devil. First, the decision to allow Ghana to play the AFCON 2015 qualifiers against Guinea, talk less of hosting the second leg in Tamale was a bad one. Guinea is one of the countries reeling under the iron fists of the dreadful Ebola. So allowing this match to take place with the potential of Guinean fans crossing our porous borders to support their team amounted to dancing with the devil.
Importing Ebola
I thought that was going to be the end, until I woke up to the sad news that my senior comrade and Sports Minister, Mahama Ayariga, is contemplating Ghana as a host of the 2015 AFCON tournament which Morocco has declined to host because of the fear of importing Ebola into that country. South Africa has also vehemently and unequivocally rejected speculations that it may consider hosting the tournament. South Africa's decision was influenced by its desire to ensure that they do not get anywhere near the scourge of Ebola.
Dear Minister, consider the distance of Morocco and South Africa from West Africa and compare that to Ghana's distance from the epicentres of the disease (Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone). If these two countries are not prepared to host the tournament because of the fear of Ebola, what justifications do you have in indicating that Ghana is prepared and can host the tournament? Do you realise you are courting and dancing with the devil? Do you realise that the entry of Ebola into this country will spell doom for all of us? Do you want to choose between the few dollars Ghana may get over losing the whole population to the scourge of Ebola?
Mr Minister, I beg you as a Ghanaian and junior comrade to immediately drop this bad idea. If you are interested in the tournament, we (Ghanaians) are not ready to be killed by Ebola.
Think about how we cannot even take control of a common case of cholera that has killed several hundreds of our dear compatriots and affected tens of thousands more. What makes you think that Ghana can stand the killing power of Ebola if it enters here? Please consider this appeal.
Mr President, please do not make this mistake by giving your approval to this terrible idea. It is a recipe for disaster.
The writer is PR, Media and Crisis Communications Specialist.
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