COVID-19 Vaccine Theft: Punish All Culprits! - Prof. Joseph Osafo

Head of Psychology at the University of Ghana, Professor Joseph Osafo says the culprits caught in the theft and sale of COVID-19 vaccines should be punished according to the laws of Ghana.

Three persons have been arrested by National Security officials for their alleged involvement in the act. 

The culprits are 37-year-old Disease Control Officer of the Greater Accra Regional Hospital, Stephen Dzisenu; 42-year-old Occupational Health and Safety Officer, Cosmos Allotey and a Project Assistant and a former Laboratory Technician at the Greater Accra Regional Hospital, Joseph Knight Gaisie.

A fourth suspect, a Disease Control Officer at the La Bawalashie Polyclinic, Lord Pabitey is reportedly at large and the security officers are on a manhunt for him.

The Ghana Health Service (GHS) has also initiated an inquiry into the alleged stealing and selling of COVID-19 vaccines in Ghana at GH¢ 200 per jab.

Addressing the issue on Peace FM's ''Kokrokoo'', Prof. Joseph Osafo feared these persons' act could have eroded public confidence in the COVID-19 vaccine program by the government, hence compounding the current situation facing the country.

He called for the culprits to face the full rigors of the law.

"It's so heartbreaking. I mean like what is wrong with us? My people, what is wrong with us? We all know this disease demands vaccine but even with the vaccine, we are now working to get public confidence. If you sell this vaccine or inject someone with the vaccine and the person experiences post-vaccine complications, we're dealing with the hesitancy already. You'll ruin the thing entirely.

"When I heard it, that was my major worry. If someone had come to say I have been injected but I have encountered A,B,C,D,E complications, what are we doing with ourselves? We're eroding public confidence in going for the vaccine. So, the culprits must face the full rigors of the law,"
he bemoaned.