Editor of the Informer Newspaper, Andy Kankam has posited there are so many ways Government can punish persons who disregard COVID-19 safety protocols rather than focusing on fines.
On his accord, most people who are found disregarding COVID-19 safety protocols do not even have the means to pay these fines and believes some punishments will definitely teach such offenders great lessons and help national development as compared to the fines.
Speaking with Samuel Eshun on the Happy Show aired on e.TV Ghana and Happy 98.9 FM, Andy said, “There are many ways to punish people who disregard COVID-19 safety protocols rather than asking them to pay fines. Most of these people found disregarding these protocols cannot even afford the fine of GH₵12,000 and all that”.
Andy furthered that because it is impossible to get such people to pay these fines, the government can focus on letting them undertake community service. “If such people are caught, they should be made to clean gutters and that will help solve the country’s issues on sanitation and others”.
He admitted that some offenders will however have the capacity to pay the fine but if they are punished and lose time valuable to them, they will do the right thing. “let’s stop the money thing in this country. If one is made to clean the gutter and not pay any fine, the delay alone will teach him/her a great lesson.
President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has signed a law (E.I164) that criminalizes the act of not wearing a face mask that fully covers the mouth and nose in public places.
The law states that those who are found guilty will be fined a minimum of GH¢12,000 or a maximum of GH¢60,000, or will be sentenced to spend between four to ten years in prison.
By: Joel Sanco
