IMPLEMENTING COVID-19 MITIGATION AND PROTECTIVE MEASURES IN GHANA AND SWEDEN: SOCIO-ECONOMIC CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES

Abstract

COVID-19 has punctured the thickest borders in the world, and even surpassed the global development gap. Containing the spread of COVID-19 is an unquestionable global socioeconomic priority that required immediate protective and mitigation measures across nations, whether developing or developed. Through the case of Ghana, a developing African country and Sweden, a developed European country, we aimed to understand both countries’ preparedness and response strategies to mitigate the spread of COVID-19. We conducted a literature review of publicly available information from December 2019 through June 2020; a period in which the virus was first reported and quickly went to its peak. We explored socio-economic challenges and opportunities borne from the preventive and protective responses implemented in Ghana and Sweden. We also explored existing challenges and opportunities that hindered or enhanced the implementation of these protective and preventive measures. We drew on the Strengths and Resilience theoretical perspectives to recognize citizens’ strengths, capacities and resources as an indispensable part of the solution. Article visualizations: