Title: Appraising public adherence to government's policy on COVID-19 safety protocols in selected institutions of higher learning in Ghana

Authors: Francis Edjah; Dadson Awunyo-Vitor; Francis Kwabena Oduro-Gyimah

Addresses: Ghana Communication Technology University, Private Mail Bag 100, Accra North, Ghana ' Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, P.O. Box SN 1005, Santasi-Kumasi, Ghana ' Ghana Communication Technology University, P.O. Box KS 1931, North, Ghana

Abstract: This study sought to ascertain whether or not Ghanaians in the universities adhered to the COVID-19 safety protocols, especially with face-masking (F), physical distancing (D) and hand sanitising (S) - (FDS) towards averting virus transmission. The study collected a perception data from a sample of 191 respondents from three universities in Ghana using a well-structured questionnaire. Data collected were analysed using SPSS version 27 and presented in descriptive statistics, graphs, and perception index. Findings revealed a high compliance level with the FDS safety protocols against the COVID-19 transmission, enabling academic interactions and activities in the universities to be conducted. The study therefore concluded that the protocols constituted a useful intervention against COVID-19 transmission and facilitated academic activities in the Ghanaian university communities. On the aegis of the efficacy of the FDS protocols and the impact of COVID-19 information dissemination on the public, it was thus recommended that in the event of a communicable pandemic, the behavioural changes with the FDS protocols was a useful intervention against transmission of a pandemic.

Keywords: public adherence; COVID-19; safety protocols; higher institutions; Ghana.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEASA.2024.137217

International Journal of Education, Arts and Social Issues in Africa, 2024 Vol.1 No.1, pp.52 - 81

Received: 05 Aug 2022
Accepted: 03 Jun 2023
Published online: 05 Mar 2024 *