Coronavirus: Evacuate Ghanaian students now – NUGS to gov’t

The National Union of Ghana Students (NUGS) has called on the Akufo-Addo-led government to evacuate Ghanaian students living in Wuhan as the coronavirus consumes lives.

NUGS secretary for Education, Stallon Okine Nii, in a statement on Monday said: “It is crystal clear at this point that the government is disinterested in the lives of these innocent Ghanaian students in China.”

He added: “Leaving our Citizens deserted in another country with no hope of help from their country and its leadership is so so terrifying and a threat to patriotism and nation-building knowing that these are young energetic youth who are the future of our nation.”

The government has served notice it will evacuate Ghanaians “when it becomes necessary.”

Below is the full statement:

Ghana Government should do the needful, we can’t give away our Ghanaian students to Coronavirus in China

The recent happenings concerning the 300 or more Ghanaian nationals in the Wuhan and Hubei province of China lurked without knowing what their fate is, is completely appalling.

For about 3 weeks or so, these Ghanaian nationals have been stalked battling hunger and emotional numbness.

It is crystal clear at this point that the government is disinterested in the lives of these innocent Ghanaian students in China.

The Government had for an umpteenth number of times schemed and machinated these students with a set date of a possible evacuation back home. The dramatic thing the Ghana Government could do in this situation was to send them money.

Information gathered was that the money sent was used to secure protective materials which they already have in excess, the actual needs of getting foodstuffs were never met, making Ghanaians students starve in their locked-up rooms.

Money is good, very good. But how good is money to a dying soul?

There are better interventions at this critical moment that could have been looked at.

Leaving our Citizens deserted in another country with no hope of help from their country and its leadership is so so terrifying and a threat to patriotism and nation-building knowing that these are young energetic youth who are the future of our nation.

On this note, I call on the Government to as a matter of urgency, evacuate the Ghanaian nationals from Wuhan and the Hubei Province to a safer precinct within China since there are safer provinces. This is something Tunisia, UK, and other African countries had done so its not so much of a grandiose task for our country to do.

Let us remember that saving the lives of Ghanaians living elsewhere is saving the face and integrity of Ghana ??

By: Stallon Okine Nii, Nugs Sec. for Education

Source: Daily Mail GH