DO PRESIDENTIAL SPEECHES MATTER DURING UNCERTAINTIES? EVIDENCE FROM THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC
Keywords:
Presidential Address, Presidential Speech, COVID-19, Cases, Deaths, GhanaAbstract
Purpose –– This study contributes to the fight and management of the deadly COVID-19 pandemic by investigating the
association between knowledge sharing through intermittent Presidential speeches and COVID-19 active cases and deaths in
Ghana.
Methods –– The study relied on seemingly real-time quantitative time series secondary data and the ordinary least
squares (OLS) regression method with robust standard errors for the estimation of the model.
Findings –– The results show evidence of a negative and statistically significant relationship between pre- and postpresidential COVID-19 speeches, and the number of COVID-19 active cases and deaths.
Conclusion & Recommendation –– Timely and periodic
presidential speeches can be adopted as one of the management measures adopted to inform and educate citizens in the fight
against the pandemic.
Keywords –– Presidential Address, Presidential Speech,
COVID-19, Cases, Deaths, Ghana.
References
Abbey, C.O. (2020). CAP-20 for COVID-19: The Case of Vulnerable Businesses in Ghana. Retrieved from https://www.myjoyonline.com/opinion/cap-20-for-covid-19-the-case-of-vulnerablebusinesses-in-ghana. [Accessed 16/09/2021].
Abor, J., & Quartey, P. (2010). Issues in SME development in Ghana and South Africa. International research Journal of Finance and Economics, 39(6), 215-228.
Aduhene, D.T. & Osei-Assibey, E. (2021) Socio-economic impact of COVID-19 on Ghana's economy: challenges and prospects. International Journal of Social Economics. 48(4), 543-556
Allen C.E. (2001). 2020 presidential address: eliminating health disparities. American. Journal of Public Health. 2001. 91(7), 1142.-1143.
Amoah, A., & Amoah, B. (2021). The COVID-19 pandemic lockdown: a buzz of negativity with a silver lining of social connectedness. Journal of Economic and Administrative Sciences. Ahead-ofprint.
Arlinghaus, K.R. & Johnston, C.A. (2018). Advocating for behaviour change with education. American Journal of Lifestyle Medicine. 12(2), 113–116.
Assan, A., Hussein, H., Agyeman-Duah, D.N. (2022). COVID-19 lockdown implementation in Ghana: lessons learned and hurdles to overcome. Journal of Public Health Policy. 43(1), 129–139.
Baumeister, R., Masicampo, E.J. & Vohs, K. (2011). Do Conscious Thoughts Cause Behaviour? Annual Review of Psychology. 62(1), 331-61.
Baumgartner, F.R. & Jones, B.D. (1993). Agendas and instability in American politics. Chicago, USA: University of Chicago Press.
Coccia, M. (2021). The impact of first and second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in society: comparative analysis to support control measures to cope with negative effects of future infectious diseases. Environmental Research. 197, 1-9.
Chauhan, V. & Shah, M.H. (2020). An empirical analysis into sentiments, media consumption habits, and consumer behaviour during the Coronavirus (COVID-19) Outbreak. Purakala UGC Care Journal. 31(20), 353-375
Dijksterhuis, A., Chartrand, T.L. & Aarts, H. (2007). Effects of Priming and Perception on Social
Behaviour and Goal Pursuit. In J. A. Bargh (Ed.), Social psychology and the unconscious: The
automaticity of higher mental processes (pp. 51–131). Psychology Press, Washington, USA,
Diwarkar, V. (2020). From Pandemics to Poverty, Hotspots of Vulnerability in Times of Crisis.
Retrieved from https://odi.org/en/publications/from-pandemics-to-poverty-hotspots-ofvulnerability-in-times-of-crisis/ [Accessed 15/12/2021].
Eger, L. Komarkova, L., Egerova, D., & Micik, M. (2021). The effect of COVID-19 on consumer shopping behaviour: generational cohort perspective. Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services. 61(1).
DOI:10.1016/j.jretconser.2021.102542.
Ghana Health Service (GHS). (2020). Situation update, Covid-19 outbreak in Ghana as at 7 May 2020.
Accra, Ghana: Author. Retrieved from https:// ghanahealthservice.org/covid19/archive.php.
[Accessed 15/12/2021].
Howard, J., Huang. A., Li, Z., Tufekci, Z., Zdimal, V., & Van der Westhuizen, H., (2020). Face masks
against COVID-19: An evidence review. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences,
(4). e2014564118, https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2014564118.
Ibarra, F. P., Mehrad, M., Mauro, M. D., Godoy, M. F. P., Cruz, E. G., Nilforoushzadeh, M.A., &
Russo, G. I. (2020). Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the sexual behaviour of the
population. The vision of the east and the west. International Brazilian Journal Urology. 46,
-112.
International Labour Orgainsation (ILO). (2020). Social protection responses to the COVID-19 crisis:
Country responses and policy considerations. https://www.ilo.org/wcmsp5/groups/public/---
ed_protect/---soc_sec/documents/ publication/wcms_742337.pdf. [Accessed 22/10/2021]
Javed, B., Sarwer, A., Soto, E.B., & Mashwani, Z.U. (2020). The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic's
impact on mental health, The International Journal of Health Planning and Management, 35(5),
-996
KPMG. 2020. Ghana – COVID-19- Related Travel Restrictions and Safety. Retrieved from
https://home.kpmg/xx/en/home/insights/2020/03/flash-alert-2020-094.html. [Accessed
/10/2021]
Kugbey, N., Amoah, A., Dotse, S-Q., Amoako-Asiedu, E., Delalorm, C., & Nyarko-Sampson, E. (2021).
"The angel within the devil": COVID-19 silver linings. Pan African Medical Journal. 40(251).
DOI: 10.11604/pamj.2021.40.251.32345.
Kwablah, E., Amoah, A., & Panin, A. (2014). The impact of foreign aid on national income in Ghana: a
test for long run equilibrium. African Journal of Economics and Sustainable Development. 3(3),
-236.
McDonald, E. M., Mack, K., Shields, W. C., Lee, R. P. & Gielen, A. C. (2016). Primary Care
Opportunities to Prevent Unintentional Home Injuries: A Focus on Children and Older
Adults. American Journal of Lifestyle Medicine. 12(2), 96–106.
Ministry of Gender, Children, and Social Protection (MoGCSP). (2020). Demo on the preparation of
Homemade Hand Sanitizers at MoGCSP.
http://www.mogcsp.gov.gh/index.php/practicaldemonstration- on- the- preparation- ofhomemade- hand- sanitizers- at- mogcsp. [Accessed 9/9/2021]
Ministry of Gender, Children, and Social Protection (MoGCSP). (2020). Demo on the preparation of
Homemade Hand Sanitizers at MoGCSP.
http://www.mogcsp.gov.gh/index.php/practicaldemonstration- on- the- preparation- ofhomemade- hand- sanitizers- at- mogcsp. [Accessed 9/9/2021.]
Sellnow, T. L. (2015). Crisis communication. In H. Cho, T. Reimer, & K. A. McComas (Eds.), The
SAGE Handbook of Risk Communication (pp. 288–302). SAGE Publications.
Sibiri, H., Prah, D., & Zankawah, S. M. (2021). Containing the impact of COVID-19: Review of
Ghana’s response Approach. Health Policy and Technology. 10(1), 13–15.
Siramaneerat, I. (2021). Perceptions, knowledge and self-defense behaviours regarding COVID-19
among employees at Rajamangala University of Technology Thanyaburi. Thailand. Journal of
Health Research. Ahead of print. DOI:10.1108/JHR-09-2020-0426.
Stoler, J., Jepson, W. E., & Wutich, A. (2020). Beyond handwashing: Water insecurity undermines
COVID-19 response in developing areas. Journal of Global Health, 10(1), 1-4.
doi.org/10.7189/jogh.10.010355
Tetteh, J. E., Amoah, A., Ofori-Boateng, K., & Hughes, G. (2022). Stock market response to COVID-19
pandemic: A comparative evidence from two emerging markets, Scientific African. 17, 1-11.
World Health Organization (WHO) (2020). WHO Director-General’s opening remarks at the media
briefing on COVID-19. 2020 Mar 11. World Health Organization. Available at https://www.
who.int/dg/speeches/detail/who-director-general-s-opening-remarks-atthe-media-briefing-onCovid-19---11-march-2020. [Accessed 31/12/2021].
World Health Organisation (WHO) (2021). Driving COVID-19 vaccine uptake in Ghana’s hard-to-reach
communities. Available at https://www.afro.who.int/news/driving-covid-19-vaccine-uptakeghanas-hard-reach-communities-0. [Accessed 31/12/2021].
