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 55 ( ) Global Journal of Human Social Science - Year 2022 F as the citizens will not lose anything for not going out. Gu & Li, 2020). China declared a nationwide fight against the Covid-19 and this was codenamed “People’s War”. Medical supplies were boosted and this includes: deployment and provision of healthcare staff to fight on the frontline; logistical support from officials and volunteers, and strict adherence of covi-19 protocols by the people of Wuhan who made sure that they are protected from each for possible infection. Each and every person considered the fight against Covid-19 as all hands on deck and a fight for all and not for a selected few. They saw the government to have performed his duty of providing medical care, constant disinfection and fumigation, provision of drugs and other personal protective equipment and it is therefore the turn of the people to also perform their part by strictly adhering to the directive from the government and other health officials. (He, 2020). China appeared to have been overwhelmed by the massive demand for medical supplies even though it is observed that the country is a healthcare manufacturing hub. There was an overflow of demand for medical supplies as China could not meet the excess demand for medical supplies promptly. The government then devised some strategies and measures to surmount this obstacles in curbing the infection cases of the covid-19 and this includes encouraging drug producers and other pharmaceutical companies to develop medicine and other Personal protective equipment and goods and service that were needed to combat the spread of the virus. Also excess supply of nose masks were purchased by the government to ensure that producers of nose masks do not run at a loss and discourage them to stop producing them even at the end of the upsurge of the pandemic in China. Furthermore, government directive and regulations which impose severe punishments for traders who increased prices of personal protective equipment were prescribed and this was ensured through provision of hotlines for consumer complaints (Huang, 2013). g) Africa’s Submissive Populace in the fight of the COVID-19 The high burden of infectious diseases, weak health systems, poverty and the arrival of the winter “flu” season in Southern Africa, are some major factors which particularly make the African continent one of the most vulnerable to the Covid-19 pandemic. According to the Infectious Disease Vulnerability Index (IDVI) 2016, out of 25 countries most vulnerable to infectious diseases, 22 are in the African region (WHO, 2020). Therefore, it could be reasonably hypothesised that the majority of the African populace will be at high risk of the Covid-19. African countries have a weaker healthcare system when you compare them to the developed nations such as USA, the UK and China, which have advanced health care systems. (Mo Ibrahim Foundation, 2020; OECD, 2020; Boston Consulting Group, 2020). The limited testing capacity, shortage of trained staff required for diagnostics and intensive care units (ICU), inadequate ventilators and ICU facilities (needed in severe cases of COVID-19), lack of personal protective equipment (PPE) for healthcare workers and scarcity of funds for the health sector, are some of the Africa’ core challenge in fighting the COVID-19 pandemic (Mo Ibrahim Foundation, 2020; OECD, 2020; Boston Consulting Group, 2020, McKenzie, 2020). The other misfortune for Southern Africa is the arrival of winter, as all respiratory viruses spread more effectively in the winter between May and September 2020 and therefore it is expected that the Covid-19 is likely to spread in Southern Africa between this period (Mendelson, 2020; Hopman, Allengranzi & Mehtar, 2020). The northern region of Africa may become fortunate because during summer this region becomes hot and is likely decrease the transmission of the virus (Mendelson, 2020; Gilbert, Pullano & Pinotti, 2020). h) Africa’s submissive populace in the fight of the Covid-19: The case of the republic of Ghana Ghana’s uneven socio-economic arrangements, health care system, socio-cultural practices and government’s response account for the way Covid-19 has spread across the country (Khoo, 2020). The Covid- 19 pandemic is airborne (World Health Organization 2020) and this makes populated and crowded urban settlements such as Accra, Kumasi and Takoradi susceptible to its spread. In addition to the overcrowding in these cities, globalisation which allows free movements of people across national borders could partly be attributed to the rise in infection cases. Ghana’s first Covid-19 positive was announced in March 2020 and was alleged to have entered into the country by people who traveled from Nigeria and Europe (Ministry of Health 2020). The country was not prepared as it did not learn the devastation the Covid-19 caused China, India America and Europe. By the time the country realised, it has been overwhelmed by the pandemic. The government subsequently closed its borders for air, land and sea travels on 22 March, 2020 (Akufo-Addo 2020; Garda World News Alert 2020). The government of Ghana announced a three- week lockdown in the country’s major towns (Accra and Kumasi) which had recorded quite a number of infection cases of the virus in major from 30 March to 20 April, 2020 as a measure to curtail a possible community infection of the virus (Garda World News Alert 2020). Following the lockdown, schools, churches, funerals and other social gatherings in Ghana had to be banned and the citizens were encouraged to do mandatory testing (Akuffo-Addo 2020, Nyabor 2020). Some identified hospitals as well as testing centres were designated for Covid-19 in Ghana (Zhang, Nonvignon, &