According to Kofi Bentil, a Legal practitioner and vice president of policy think tank Imani Africa, he is not in support of the law on the wearing of masks, asserting that the inconsiderate nature of it will lead Ghanaians to ignore it.
The Government of Ghana, in the wake of the novel coronavirus pandemic, has taken drastic measures to make sure that the disease is contained, including making a law that will punish people for not wearing face masks in public.
Being an Executive Instrument (E.I. 164), the law was on June 15, 2020, signed into force by President Akufo-Addo.
It is part of the hardline measures created to contain the spread of the novel coronavirus disease. This law makes it an offence to refuse to wear a face mask in public.
Drawing its power from the powers granted the President under the Imposition of Restrictions Act, 2020 (Act 1012), the punishment for flouting the law is a prison sentence of four to ten years or a fine of GH¢12,000 to GH¢60,000 or both.
Gazetted on Monday, June 15, Per the law, E.I. 164, not wearing face masks in public is criminal and the law is in force for three months and shall apply to the whole of Ghana.
Mr Bentil, however, has said the law is a “bad law” and will be ignored, rendering it worthless. He further debated that the law should have made for exceptions such as when one is seated in a car with the air conditioner on.
“When Law doesn’t make sense it will be ignored and worthless”.
1. 12k/4 years for not wearing a mask? Is bad law!!
2. One person in an air-conditioned car doesn’t need a mask! The Law Is not such an Ass,” he wrote on Facebook.
