Ghana’s management of the COVID-19 pandemic was seen as a remarkable story of success
in Africa and beyond. Nonetheless, the government’s response efforts gave impulse to the
critique of state surveillance and framed tensions between public health measures vis-à-vis
individual rights and liberties. These tensions became a tipping point in the political debates
for the intensely fought 2020 national elections. This chapter discusses how the government
reacted and implemented public health measures nationwide. The politically charged context
obliged the administration to craft a communication strategy balancing science and expert
knowledge with humorous and emotional appeals in managing the health crisis. This paid off
in attracting compliance with the pandemic containment measures. Subsequently, the
government could resort to strategic public absences, allowing it to conduct national elections
and buy time for much-needed external support for the pandemic recovery efforts.

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