CORONA VIRUS: NO SOCIAL DISTANCING IN ASANTE BEKWAI

The world is currently in a dilemma over the outbreak of the Corona Virus Covid-19 which began in the Wuhan Province in China.
While countries are doing all it takes to educate it's citizens and  take care of patients who are already infected with the virus, Ghana is also doing its part in the fight against the deadly virus.
Since March 12 when Ghana recorded its first 2 cases of Covid-19, government has been working around the clock to keep the cases minimal.
One of the very crucial steps that  the Ministry of  Health and the Ghana Health Service took was to sensitize Ghanaians on prevention of the fast-rising corona virus.
Few days after the country began recording cases, adverts to educate Ghanaians on the virus began running on some media channels.
The education was centered on prevention of the corona virus, asking citizens to wash their hands often and use hand sanitizers.
The advertisement also touched on social distancing as a way to prevent the corona virus which seems to be taking a lot of lives in the world currently.
Social distancing, has, however become a daunting task for many citizens as reports of its non-compliance have triggered me to write this article.
Watching television this morning, a viewer sent a text, lamenting on how many natives of Asante Bekwai are not observing the social distancing directive.
The text message alarmed me since I deem the current situation at Asante Bekwai as deadly, because those who are not observing the social distancing directive can easily get infected.
In as much as one will blame natives of the town for not adhering to the directives from government and the Ministry of Health, I will lay some blame at the doorstep of government.
As an expert in Communication Studies, I do not find the current government advertisement on Covid-19 detailing enough to stop the people of Asante Bekwai from gathering when they should be observing social distancing.
The advertisement from government agencies gave strict directives to prevent Corona Virus but failed to provide reasons why citizens must observe the directives.
Considering the literacy rate of most Ghanaians, the advertisement and education on Corona Virus should have given much details than it is currently.
Most of the citizens may have listened to the education, saying wash your hands, keep social distancing but do not know why they are being asked to do so.
The issue of body contact and droplets which can let someone get infected from an already infected person has not been clearly outlined.
Furthermore, already existing data from other countries who are currently suffering from the virus could have been used to educate Ghanaians so they could appreciate the devastating nature of Covid-19.
Notwithstanding, I do not see a lot of community education like it is being done for maternal health or HIV/AIDS.
We have not seen image illustrations printed and posted in communities to educate citizens on Covid-19.
The NCCE and other non-governmental organizations have not been engaged appropriately in educating citizens on the deadly nature of Covid-19.
The above communication mishaps in educating Ghanaians on Corona Virus is likely the reason why the people of Asante Bekwai are unable to observe social distancing.
My advise to government is to consider detailed education as an integral part of fighting Corona Virus, thus must consider a holistic approach to designing advertisement for the pandemic.