President Akufo-Addo on Wednesday, March 20, 2024 launched a book chronicling Ghana’s remarkably resilient and globally applauded journey through the COVID-19 pandemic.
The book, authored by the young medico-politician and Minister of Health Designate, Dr. Bernard Okoe Boye is titled “Fellow Ghanaians, Telling Ghana’s COVID-19 Story; A journey of fear, facts, faith and fortune.”
Sharing his thoughts on the masterpiece of ingenuity by the now Minister of Health Designate, President Akufo-Addo described the entire experience as a tacit “symbol of hope and inspiration for future generations, and a reminder that even in our darkest times, we can find light and strength in our unity.”
According to him, “Fellow Ghanaians” is not just a title, but “a powerful reminder of the bond that unites as a people, transcending tribe, religion or political affiliation. It was a call to action, urging us to stand together in the face of the adversity of COVID-19, and to work tirelessly to win the fight against the pandemic.”
Clearly showing a reflective disposition, he said, “when I first used the phrase, “Fellow Ghanaians”, during my national broadcast, I did so with a sense of responsibility and fellow feeling. As President, I saw it as my duty to provide Ghanaians with regular updates on the situation and the measures government is taking and to seek your support and cooperation.”
“That is why I was a constant feature on your screens from 2020 to 2022, in the addresses that became popularly referred to as fellow Ghanaians. And I thank you for welcoming me, so warmly, into your homes. You listened to me, you cooperated with government, and with the health experts. You adhered to the enhanced hygiene and mask wearing protocols, and a considerable number of you took the vaccines,” he recalled with gratitude.
President Akufo-Addo found it even more humbling to find his most popular phrase, immortalised in the title of a book by one of the several young appointees in his government.
President Akufo-Addo found it even more humbling to find his most popular phrase, immortalised in the title of a book by one of the several young appointees in his government.
Continuing, he described it as “testament of the resilience and strength of the Ghanaian spirit, even in the face of unprecedented challenges,” and noted the tribute it pays “to the countless acts of kindness, courage and sacrifice that defined our response to the pandemic.”
He urged Ghanaians, to stand together as they did, “to support one another and strive for a better future for our beloved country.”
“Together, there is no challenge we cannot overcome, no obstacle we cannot surmount. May God bless us and our homeland Ghana, and make her great and strong, he urged.
Dr Bernard Okoe Boye, was a popular face and voice who, through public appearances and via discussions on radio and television, apprised the populace on COVID-19 even before Ghana recorded its first case.