On this page, we are collecting information on the effects of the measures taken to halt the spread of the COVID-19 virus on democracy in Ghana.

 

Information on COVID-19 measures and democracy

Type of measures Measures & sources
Limitations to freedom of movement

  15 March:

  • Ghana adopted a travel ban from countries where there are more than 200 cases of coronavirus

   16 March:

  • the government imposed a ban on all public gatherings (political rallies, religious and sports activities, conferences...). All schools have been closed and social distancing must be observed by supermarkets, shopping malls, restaurants, night clubs, and hotels.

   22 March:

  • Ghana closed all its borders - land, sea and air - to human traffic to contain the spread of the coronavirus 

   30 March:

  • The government imposed a lockdown on the two largest cities for two weeks: Greater Accra Metropolitan Area and the Greater Kumansi Metropolitan Area. Individuals are permitted to leave their homes for essential reasons. Inter-city travel for private and commercial purposes is suspended, except for essential goods and services.

   20 April:

  • The president has lifted restrictions on movement in parts of the country that were under a partial lockdown and urged citizens to wear face masks

   27 April:

  • Ghana's President Nana Akufo-Addo has extended the ban on public gatherings by two more weeks to contain the spread of coronavirus

   1 May:

  • Domestic flight would resume. International flights would be banned until 31 May.

1 June:

  • Lockdown restrictions were eased, though borders will remain closed until further notice
Limitations to electoral rights

   24 March:

  • Elections are scheduled for December 2020. However, Ghana's Electoral Commission's planned voter registration exercise has been halted indefinitely.

14 April:

  • The NPP has suspended its parliamentary primaries (originally planned for April 25th)
Limitation to civil rights
  • Amnesty International and other organisations claim the distribution of food in Ghana is being done on party basis, and therefore they ask for more targeted and transparent approach must be adopted in order to make the distribution effective.
  • The justice system is going through many changes. Many prisoners have been processed for release, ostensibly to avoid overcrowding and its health risks if the virus finds its way to the prisons. the number of cases to be heard can be drastically reduced by using alternative dispute resolution mechanisms such as out of court settlements.
Risks to data security  
 
Limitations to freedom of information
  • Journalists and media professionals are reporting a sharp rise in physical attacks by security forces and some has been sent to prison as they attempt to report on COVID-19. Also, there are reports of soldiers confiscated recording equipment of journalists.
Emergency powers for government

   15 March:

  • The government passed a new law under which introducing emergency measures to contain the COVID-19 pandemic: the Imposition of Restrictions Act. This allows the government to impose restrictions on citizens. The law has been criticized because since there is no expiry date on when the provisions of the act will be lifted, and it does not mention Covid-19 as its focus. the fear is that it might open the doors to freedoms violations in the country. This new law has been adopted despite the existing Emergency Powers Act, 1994 (Act 472), which would require the president to come to parliament every three months so that MPs can assess if the measures are needed. With the new law, this is not mandatory.
Corona laws - full text

 

Various  
 
Last updated on 14.07.2020

 

Please note that we are constantly updating the information under rapidly changing circumstances, the information on this page should not be taken to be a complete overview of measures in a country. 

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