Ghanaian actress Beverly Afaglo has said Ghanaians will starve if the government decides to close down markets across the country in the wake of the spread of COVID-19.
Her comments follow suggestions by some Ghanaians that markets should be closed down following to prevent further spread of the virus.
Ghana has so far recorded eleven cases.
Government in a bid to prevent further spread of the deadly virus has placed a ban on all public gatherings including churches services, funerals and festivals.
Schools have also been closed.
Reacting to this in an interview with Nana Romeo on Ayeeko Ayeeko on Accra100.5FM on Thursday, 19 March 2020, the actress said: “No we shouldn’t close down the markets else we’ll starve. Ghanaians, we don’t have money like the developed countries that perhaps if they don’t have physical cash they can use credit card to buy lots of things and stock them at home.
“We [Ghanaians] don’t have much money to opt to buy and stock stuff at home for a month. So you’ll see that it won’t affect the rich but the poor will be affected then the history of the 1983 hunger will repeat itself. So, they should take their time on the closure of the markets idea. The market women should protect themselves for us, we’re pleading with them. We won’t have money to stock food.”
Beverly Afaglo is married to Choirmaster of ‘Praye’ fame and has starred in movies such as ‘Single Six, Prince’s bride, Return of Beyonce’ among others.