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Some Accra beaches remain open despite ban
To worsen the matter, patrons do not observe protocols including social distancing.
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The Mirror observed this during its visit last Sunday to some beaches to monitor the situation.
Those who were not seated close to one another were found by the sea side, engaging in all sort of games including beach soccer, acrobatics and dance.
Children were not left out in the activities as they were seen without face masks.
Some foreign tourists were seen in face masks, strictly adhering to other protocols by occasionally rubbing their hands with what looked like hand sanitiser.
Also, the usual crowd at the beach’s entrance and the parking area persisted.
There were some inscriptions of COVID-19 safety measures on walls to warn revellers.
Some revellers at La Pleasure beach resort at La in Accra
Not much had been done to reduce the numbers that thronged the place, while preventive measures such as the provision and use of Veronica buckets for handwashing at the entrance was absent.
A bar operator who constantly persuaded this reporter to patronise her service said, “it is difficult to restrict people. There isn’t much you can do. People will always come to the beach and it is up to them to protect themselves”.
Tawala and F33hi Volley beaches
However, the situation at other beaches such as Tawala and F33hi volley beaches at Korle Gonno, all in Accra, were different.
At Tawala, near La, management of the beach had barricaded all entrance to the beach in compliance with the government’s directive.
And whenever some people tried to enter the beach, the coordinators would shout “you can’t go there, the beach is closed”.
Patrons at the beach were only restricted to the restaurant and sitting areas where protocols were strictly being observed.
A staff at Tawala, Nii Ayi, who took this reporter through the handwashing process, said it was his duty to usher customers to their seats unlike before when customers had a choice as to where to sit.
He said this was to ensure proper social distancing at both the restaurant and the open space.
At the F33hi volley beach, a lot of the patrons were using the restaurant and only a few people were at the beach side.
Here, the COVID-19 protocol instructions were boldly pasted on walls, the entrance and exit, yet patrons had ignored the “No nose masks, no entry” signs.
In a chat, some of the patrons indicated that the management of the beach had no control over the people who visited for fear that they might lose customers if they enforced strict compliance with the protocols.
Mr Jude Lamisi, who had come from Koforidua in the Eastern Region on a visit in the area, said “no one forced me to wear nose masks and in fact l was surprised”.
“Nobody prompted me as well although l have my nose mask in my purse”, another patron, Ms Alice Dawuona, said.