The COVID-19 Global Pandemic: Socio-Cultural, Economic and Educational Implications from Ghana

Abstract

This study presents the experiences of the Ghanaian people toward the COVID-19 global pandemic. It presents the popular views and attitudes of the people of Ghana on the socio-cultural, economic and educational implications of the COVID-19. The data for the study are based on news reports on television and radio stations as well as print media. Also, data were generated from twenty seven personal interviews via face-to-face, telephone and zoom video interactions. The data were discussed using thematic analysis as well as document analysis in the qualitative research approach. The findings revealed that the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic in Ghana came as a shock to many Ghanaians who held the popular view that the virus was immune to black genes. Some Ghanaians believe that the infection is a matter of faith and prioritize religious supplications as a protective metric than the strict adherence to the medical preventive protocols for the COVID-19. The intensive public education and the laudable efforts by the Ghana government are gradually erasing these wrong perceptions toward the COVID-19 infection.