COVID-19: Celebs step up to the plate

Ghana recorded its first cases of COVID-19 on March 12 and since then, the cases have risen to 136 (as at press time) and there have been warnings that the numbers will go up.

Since President Nana Akufo-Addo announced the first cases along with a raft of measures to help combat a spread, there have been some interesting developments.

Prices of hand sanitisers, rubbing alcohol, gloves and face masks (which are to help in preventing people getting infected), have about quadrupled with outfits selling these items cashing in on the demand and making brisk sales.

It is in such times that organisations have stepped up to show support.

Celebrities

On the entertainment front, a number of our celebrities have also stepped up to be counted.

There are a number of celebrities who are doing their bit to support people. On social media, they have used their various pages to educate their followers on the preventive measures for the coronavirus.

A number of them including songstress Wiyaala, realising the messages from health authorities were mostly in English, have resorted to spreading the message in their own dialects.

Then there are some who have gone the extra mile and are extending support to people. Actress Gloria Sarfo has given out about 2,000 sanitisers and liquid soap to people in Accra. According to her, she has not finished the distribution and will give out more.

Dancehall artiste, Stonebwoy has not forgotten his Ashaiman roots and always talks about his love for the place that made him. And in this period, he has not forgotten his roots, with his wife Dr Lousia Satekla and a team distributing sanitisers to people in the municipality since Tuesday, March 24. According to Dr Satekla, they give out about 500 sanitisers every day.

On Thursday, March 26, celebrity couple, Medikal and his wife Fella Makafui gave out undisclosed amount of money, toiletries, provisions and hand sanitisers to a number of people on the streets. Another beneficiary was the District Police Headquarters at East Legion in Accra.

Rapper Criss Waddle has also distributed hand sanitisers to the Tema General Hospital, the Tema Healthwise Medical Centre, the Konongo Odumase Hospital and some individuals in Tema who did not have.

They have often been accused of being self centred but in such a time as we are in, it is heartwarming to see our celebrities stepping up to the plate and serving the society that made them.