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.
Description:
A thesis in the Department of Communication Instruction, School of Communication and Media Studies, submitted to the School of Graduate Studies, in partial fulfilment
of the requirements for the award of the degree of Master of Philosophy (Communication Instruction) in the University of Education, Winneba
NOVEMBER, 2022
