Analysis of sixteen (16) selected covid-19 presidential addressses a critical theoretical perspective

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic was a global health condition which presented itself in a very scary form and nature to threaten the lives of many. Governments of countries across the globe had to take measures to prevent and control spread and infection. In Ghana, presidential addresses were used to communicate government decisions and policies to safeguard the citizenry. This study sought to critically unveil embedded meanings contained in the speeches delivered by the President of Ghana, His Excellency Nana Akuffo-Addo in 2020. The study employed the qualitative content analysis methodology to purposively sample and thematically analyse sixteen (16) selected COVID-19 speeches retrieved from the website of the Presidency. Findings from the study indicate that the imposition and enforcement of the COVID-19 safety protocols exerted hardships on the citizens of Ghana through oppression, distortion of livelihoods and threat to freedom of movement. The study reveals that the masses on the other hand responded to the hardships through compliance and resistance. It is also revealed in the study that fragile healthcare system and social injustice are systemic and structural issues embedded in the speeches. Further, it is identified that the President took advantage of the addresses to respond to criticisms, especially from the opposition party using innuendoes, project government policies positively, and used the platform to communicate his campaign messages to the citizenry. The study concluded that Ghana may face similar challenges in the face of another pandemic if government does not implement robust policies to strengthen the healthcare system; and improve the socioeconomic conditions of the masses. It is recommended that government shows commitment towards the implementation of ‘Agenda 111’ to improve healthcare infrastructure and enhance its digitisation and digitalisation policy for easy identification, and provision of requisite support for the needy in times of any pandemic and/or crisis.