Firstly, to the few who have called on me since the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic in Ghana to express my views about our nation's preparedness in the face of a nonexistent $100m loan facility from the IMF and recent calls for a lockdown of Accra and Kumasi, know that I had initiated a self-motivated assessment process to clear myself at least of the symptoms of a possible infection. The pandemic caught all of us unawares and it’s important we constantly monitor changes in our health.

I wasn’t ill, I wasn't showing any symptoms related to the novel disease, neither have knowingly come into contact with any confirmed or suspected case. However, I thought it necessary to undergo such a self-period to observe any possible bodily changes. And to think of it, we constantly came into contact with all kinds of people in the 'trotros', the Ubers, the stops and the meetings, before the cases were diagnosed in Ghana.

Aside from the safety protocols issued by the GoG and WHO, ( i.e washing hands with soap and under running water, avoid handshaking, etc ) it’s important we self-initiate a 14-day monitoring of our health whether or not we may have come into contact with a suspected or confirmed Covid-19 case. This period according to science is very important. It’s the incubation period. It is after this period that one may show symptoms which may be associated with the virus.

Yesterday, I felt generally weak; I experienced some "awam coughs". But today being my 14th day, I noticed yesterday's feelings were psychological, I mean the placebo effect.

Secondly, under this 14-day period, our nation has been tormented and our laissez fare life and culture altered. The Christiandom and Moslemhood believe it's a plague characterized of the end times.

Our scientists are back to being students, the mallams are singing praises and worships; our health system and its medics and paramedics are simply stunned and overwhelmed. The numbers of confirmed cases (68 and counting ) and deaths (4) have defiled common sense, the ordinary and the entire containment protocols. I, therefore, agree with the spiritual aspect of the war we’re waging against the plague.

Interestingly what made me show sham signs of the corona scare was after I went a long day yesterday ( the eve of my 14th day ) without food with little water. It was in observance of the national day of fasting and prayers. Led by the spirit, my boss chose me to lead a prayer session in the office to break our fast. Come to think of it, I'd like to put on my cloak of faith and word in order not to disappoint.

This showmanship of faith came with more manifestation of the sham signs of the coronavirus. And though I’d earned another title of PK, Pastor Kabu, aside from the initial unofficial appointment as the head of the Ministry's task force against the coronavirus; I felt I was coming down with the virus. 

Indeed, every Ghanaian and global citizen should seek the face of their Supreme deity in these times. There’re countries with highly resourced labs around the world, yet thousands of their citizens are dying.

On a possible lockdown, deep-throat sources reveal it may be granted – people’s movement will be extremely restricted to their homes. It is an obvious call considering the speed of the spread.

But it’s important to adopt a good feeding and living system for citizens in order not to breed poor health conditions thereof. I was impressed when I was briefed on the systems instituted by some universities abroad. For instance, a friend at Clark University in Massachusetts, USA, attests to the proactive measures taken by his school authorities when it noticed things were getting out of hand.

Aside the lockdown, a food bank was immediately created for students both residential and nonresidential at a highly subsidized rate, nearly free.

Additionally, an emergency fund was created for students adding that those who think the lockdown may affect their ability to financially be independently applied for that.

Meanwhile, some Ghanaian students are still struggling with online lecture schedules. Some civil servants also dread this lockdown especially when they say their job has practically become ‘hand to mouth’. They say paying them earlier may mitigate against the possible effect of the lockdown. The Ghanaian slums are also panicking of what they’ll become because the sanitation condition will be greatly exposed in these times. I, therefore, add my voice to the call for proper intervention measures should we go into lockdown.

Another question for a nation - what are the current conditions of those asked to go into self-quarantining within these 14 days?

During this 14 day self-motivated close supervision of my health, I’ve consumed so much media content on the virus. I’ve disagreed with friends who say the media isn’t trying. I bet to differ, my only concern was the first one week which came with uncontrolled reactive media content. Some mischievous persons took advantage of the situation to spread fear and misinformation.

Essentially, the pandemic has taught leadership lessons. It exposes a hitherto relaxing approach of our health officials, scientists, herbalist and even spiritualists towards epidemics; not forgetting our political leaders.

Proactive measures come with visionary leadership. Visionary leadership has become a way of life for excellent leaders. It requires staying with global trends and historic events constantly and mapping out measures for the present, to avert the occurrence of a crisis.

Indeed, it has been 14 days of lessons, national struggle and hopes to heal our land.