COVID-19 PANDEMIC FIGHT IN GHANA: DOMESTIC PRODUCTION OF PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT (PPE) AND LINGUISTIC CHOICES IN PRESIDENTIAL ADDRESSES FROM MARCH – NOVEMBER 2020

Abstract

This article does a critical discourse analysis of the first nineteen (19) addresses delivered by president Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo Addo (from March – November 2020) with regards to the fight against the Covid-19 pandemic to determine the content and context of the linguistic choices in relation to the laid-out measures in favour of developing the local fashion and textiles industry. Critical discourse analysis was used as research design and as data analysis plan. Inductive content analysis formed part of the analytical tools. The analysis revealed that specific measures put in place to curtail the importation of PPE was engagement of the local fashion designers, tailors and seamstresses some of which had begun production of some the PPE in smaller quantities for commodification. The high cost of importation of PPE, its global shortage, and proactive response of the Ghanaian sartorial workers pushed the government to do the needful by falling on local manufacturing companies to assist them in the domestic production of PPE. It recommended that the government must provide the fashion and textiles industry with credit facilities, tax waivers; and logistical support such as industrial machineries and other needed equipment for expansion of the industry in the subsequent budgets, and maintain fiscal and tactical discipline to these. This must be done with the aim of strengthening domestic production, advancing the nation’s self-reliance, stopping the imports of the PPE and at the same time creating more jobs in the multimillion sector in this time of economic hardship. Article visualizations: