Dr. Bernard Okoe-Boye’s book documenting Ghana’s traumatic experience during the COVID-19 pandemic has been officially launched in Accra.
President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo unveiled the book, titled “Fellow Ghanaians: Telling Ghana’s COVID-19 Story: A Journey of Fear, Facts, Faith, and Fortune,” at the College of Physicians and Surgeons in Accra on Wednesday, March 20, 2024.
The book aims to serve as a scholarly work, presenting original research on the COVID-19 pandemic and directly engaging with all segments of Ghanaian society and beyond.
During the official launch, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo hailed the book as a timely masterpiece designed for all, especially future generations.
He commended Dr. Okoe-Boye for providing a thoughtful and thorough analysis of Ghana’s traumatic experience during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The President described Dr Okoe-Boye as one of the distinguished youngest appointees of his government whose stellar performance is praiseworthy.
He commended Ghanaians for strictly adhering to the safety protocols that were put in place to curb the spread of the pandemic and reminded the citizens to reflect on the bitter lessons learnt and the progress made towards nation-building.
The Author, Dr Bernard Okoe-Boye said he wrote the book to share knowledge with the world on how the Ghana government and all key stakeholders helped in fighting the COVID-19 pandemic.
“The legacies of the pandemic lie in these intangible, priceless changes in attitude. Another intangible legacy of the pandemic going into the future has to do with the rekindling of the can-do spirit.
The experience we have had as a nation and the battles we have fought against the virus under the banner of ‘This too shall pass’ and the grace of the Almighty has established our belief in the Ghanaian. It is now clear that no problem can continue to persist, and no challenge can continue to linger on when we dare ourselves to be frontal with the issues and rise to the occasion.”
He acknowledged the vital role played by all major stakeholders in Ghana’s health system, particularly the frontline health workers at various healthcare facilities, whose dedication and efforts led to the official publication of the book.
Dr. Okoe-Boye disclosed that proceeds from the book launch will go towards building new wards at Lekma Hospital in the Greater Accra Region and a healthcare facility in an underserved community in the Nkoranza district of the Bono East Region.
Vice President Bawumia
The Vice President, Alhaji Dr Mahamudu Bawumia in commenting said two features of the book stand out. “First, the language is highly accessible; everyone can read and understand the contents. This is good for both basic and advanced lovers of knowledge. Secondly, the story is told in detailed chronological accounts, making it easy for readers to follow the story as it is told. Future students of contemporary Ghanaian history or even global health history will find this book invaluable. The book is certainly a good record of the collective audacity of Ghanaians and our ability to fight the COVID-19 pandemic with such courage and alacrity. To get a copy of this book is to keep a piece of history on your bookshelf “he said.
First Lady Rebecca
The First Lady, Rebecca Akufo-Addo assessed the book and stated, “The COVID-19 pandemic taught as many lessons and showed as that we are a resilient nation. Dr Okoe Boye’s book encapsulates that so succinctly. The book gives insight into our transition from the first reported case to our unique responsiveness to the global pandemic as it evolved. We are made to appreciate how the vulnerable in society adapted, as well as what the government did, to facilitate the survival of the whole nation.”
“The simplistic vocabulary book dovetails a detailed account of how Ghana in the Sub-Region handled the COVID-19 pandemic using the whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach.”
The book narrates the initial detection of the virus in Ghana and the rapid development, adoption, and execution of strategies to curb its spread.
It also paints a vivid picture of the enforcement of certain restrictions, the procurement and distribution of vaccines, and the gradual relaxation of restrictions by Ghanaian authorities.