Kumasi residents stop wearing face masks
In the battle to overcome the infection and spread of the COVID-19 virus in Kumasi, the Ashanti Regional capital is currently facing a huge challenge, as a large number of residents have completely ignored the wearing of face masks.
It is becoming rare of late to see residents wear their face masks, with the small number, who wear it, preferring to leave the masks below the chin and also shunning the other safety protocols.
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City authorities also seem to be losing the battle, because over time, no resident is now being impressed upon to wear the mask as was the situation during the peak of the pandemic.
No enforcement
The Daily Graphic news team, last Saturday, combed through the central business district at Adum in Kumasi, to find out why residents had given up the wearing of the mask.
Security personnel and the task force of the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA) are no longer stationed at vantage points, a move which in the past compelled residents to adhere to the protocols.
With the exception of few public institutions such as the banks and hotels, among others, which seemed to be enforcing the protocols, the wearing of masks was completely absent in the markets and transport yards.
Hitherto, one was not allowed entry into the new Kejetia Market without a face mask, but that was not the situation when the news team visited the market at the weekend.
Though some city guards were seen at the entrances to the market, they might have been there to ensure security on the premises and not necessarily to ensure that shoppers conformed to the safety protocols.
Not too long ago, a commercial vehicle would not have taken off without passengers wearing face masks, but this was no longer the situation when the team visited the Atonsu lorry station and the Acheamfour Lorry terminal near the Kejetia market.
Residents
According to some residents, who spoke to this reporter, the pandemic had died out, and that was evident because President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo now hardly updated the nation on the virus as pertained earlier.
“Hitherto, every Sunday evening, President Akufo-Addo came on TV to give us updates on the virus,” a resident, Madam Patience Afful, told this reporter, adding that, that alone was a testimony that the virus no longer existed.
Another resident, who only gave his name as Appiah, said now authorities allowed the holding of funerals where the numbers exceeded the President’s 100 people participation at social gatherings, asking, “if all those restrictions are no longer enforced why must we wear the mask?”
A third resident, Mr Adom Boateng, who was seen in his face mask, said although he knew the essence of wearing the mask, he was becoming tired of wearing it because of how residents regarded him.
“Imagine sitting in a commercial vehicle of about 15 passengers and you are the only one wearing a mask,” he said to this reporter, adding, “someone at a point even told me I am self-conceited.”
Face mask seller
A seller of face masks also attested to the fact that business was slow because residents were no more wearing the mask.
“Even when it was sold at GH¢1, they were buying it. Now, it is five for GH¢1, but the market is not encouraging at all,” she said.
