By Grace Udofia
Ghana’s President, Nana Akufo-Addo has said despite alarming predictions that dead bodies would litter the streets of Africa during the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic, Africa experienced fewer deaths, compared to other developed countries.
Akufo-Addo made the declaration during his speech at the 76th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) held in New York, United States.
According to him, the African continent in spite of its lack of access to much vaccines like other countries across the world, seems to have mercifully escaped the worst of COVID death rates.
In what he described as an unfortunate development, he decried the recent measures by some countries in Europe who have decided to deprive persons from Africa entry, despite having taken the vaccines.
He said, “One unfortunate development which appears to be the recent measures on entry into some countries in Europe which suggest that the Oxford vaccine manufactured in India is not recognized in those countries.
“What is intriguing is the fact that this vaccine is donated to African countries through the Covax facility.
“The use of the vaccine for immigration will be a truly retrogressive stand.
“Even before the pandemic, many have concluded that even the global economic operation designed some 77 years ago has proven inadequate to finance economic infrastructure and developing countries, we need a reconstructive review.
“COVID-19 provides a great chance to rethink global economic cooperation based on the principles of mutuality, equity, sustainability and collective prosperity envisaged by the SDGs.”
