Global Journal of Human Social Science, F: Political Science, Volume 22 Issue 5

COVID-19 and Human Security: Western Populism, Chinese Strong State and Africa’s Submissive Populace © 2022 Global Journals Volume XXII Issue V Version I 52 ( ) Global Journal of Human Social Science - Year 2022 F closing of schools, religious meetings sports and other social gatherings. Africa submitted to the havoc of the COVID-19 pandemic in China and western countries and prepared and adhered to all the necessary protocols to contain the spread and the fatality rate of the pandemic. Human security in the wake of the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic could said to have been threatened as the populace are all running for a cover by ensuring social distancing. Family gathering and other social events are suspended for fear of possible infection. Schools and educational institutions had to close down and this situation has given birth to online teaching through zoom and other platforms. Board and Committee meetings for businesses and organisations are suspended. Online shopping has now become the order of the day as governments regulations prohibit overcrowding at shopping malls and supermarkets. Banks and other financial institutions encourage customers to patronise Automated Teller Machines (ATM). Restrictions on the number of persons attending any given events were imposed and violators of this directive from the governments were given stiffer punishments including a jail term (Nyabor 2020). In Ghana, church services and other religious activities were suspended and radio and television broadcast as well as Facebook interaction were adopted by many churches and other religious organisations to reach out to their congregants and members. In Ghana, partial lockdown for some cities such as the Greater Accra and Kumasi was placed and the Police and other security agencies were empowered to ensure strict compliance by all citizens. In one of the nation’s address, the President of the Republic of Ghana His Excellency Nana Addo Dankwa Akuffo Addo reported that “We know how to bring back the economy. What we do not know is how bring back human life” (Akuffo-Addo 2020). As many businesses and economic activities were affected because they have to close down, livelihoods of the people were greatly affected (Wilson 2020). The state and other political agents visited their constituents to extend their assistance in the form of food items, cash and personal protective equipment (PPE) to ensure the security of the citizens. Regular hand washing and compulsory nose cover were ensured at all public places and this was done through the provision of buckets, liquid soap and tissue papers donated by churches, other religious bodies, non- governmental organisations, corporate bodies and individuals (Bolton 2020). Citizens were cautioned to remain indoors and rarely come out as a measure to reduce their chances of being infected with the virus (Nietsche 2020). b) Problem statement The outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic and human security has been a global issue for discussion by academics, political leaders, health professionals and social workers since its outbreak in 2019. The pandemic impacted negatively and continues to bite harder on the western countries due to their inability to stop the spread of the pandemic and populism (Bale 2020). The insistence for right and freedom of movement and social gathering partly account for high infection and fatality rates of the pandemic (Margulies 2020). The coronavirus was first identified in China and spread very fast in the Hunan city. However, inspite of the fact that the pandemic affected lives and economic activities of China, the country quickly handled and recovered from the havoc of the virus and has put it under barest minimum and absolute control. As at March, 2021 China’s isolation and quarantine and treatment centres were empty of infection incidence cases (Salzberger & Ehrenstein 2020). China’s strong state and quick intervention such as quarantine, transparency, solidarity and logistical and medical supplies may have accounted for the country’s ability to defeat the virus (He 2020). It is an undeniable fact that Africa is dominated by third world countries which are struggling with poor health facilities and systems. As a result, the continent submits to the severity nature of the coronavirus and the havoc it has caused the advanced countries and took steps to implement and adhere to all the necessary protocols (McKenzie 2020). This may account for the continent’s ability to contain the spread and fatality rate of the virus. This current study therefore seeks to investigate the COVID-19 and Human Security in the Cape Coast Metropolis. c) Objective of the study The objective of the study is to investigate the COVID-19 and Human Security in relation to western populism, China’s strong state and Africa’s submissive populace. Specifically, the study seeks the following objectives: i. Investigate the inability of the Western world to curtail the infection and fatality of the pandemic. ii. Ascertain the ability of China to withstand and defeat the COVID-19 pandemic. iii. Determine Africa’s policies which enabled them to stop the spread and fatality of the virus. iv. Make recommendation for policy implication. The research questions that this current study seeks to answer are: i. How have human rights and freedom of the Western world contributed to their inability to stop the spread and fatality of the coronavirus? ii. What account for China’s ability to defeat the COVID-19 pandemic? iii. How has Africa’s submissiveness enabled them stop and control the spread and fatality of the COVID-19 pandemic?