COVID-19 and the Practice of Digital Diplomacy in Ghana

Introduction

From the beginning of the twenty-first century, nations like the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia have relied heavily on the use of the digital trend making it easier to perform diplomatic duties across the globe albeit with some challenges. COVID-19 constituted a historic global crisis (Adesina, 2022). No pandemic has had such an impact on the world since the Spanish Influenza of 1918. Technology has always had a profound impact on international relations, and digitalization is having a significant impact on diplomacy (Ozili & Arun, 2020). Diplomacy’s reliance on modern communication technology extends right to its essential functions, such as negotiation, representation and communication. Studies acknowledge that almost every country on the globe has, in some way, imitated the use of technology in conducting diplomacy (Verrekia, 2017). However, several obstacles arise, particularly in developing nations, making full implementation impossible. Global economies and communities were impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, which could have long-lasting effects on social and political structures.

In the immediate aftermath of the pandemic, the World Health Organisation and some Western commentators were skeptical about the capacity of African countries south of the Sahara to contain the virus. This skepticism was also echoed internally due to Ghana’s inadequate health infrastructure and personnel. However, the government of Ghana through the Ministries of Health and Information instituted some measures to contain the disease. In March 2020, the government announced several immediate measures to detect, contain, and stop the spread of the disease. These included closing schools, churches, mosques, and other places of worship on March 16; prohibiting entry for visitors from nations where there had been more than 200 confirmed cases of COVID-19 within the previous 14 days on March 17; requiring all visitors to the country to remain in quarantine for 48 hours (Kenu et al., 2020). Also, on the 22nd of March the government moved further to close the country’s borders; and partially locked down Accra, Kasoa, and Kumasi on March 30, 2020 (Kenu et al., 2020).

Meanwhile, the steps taken to contain it have impacted our daily activities that attempt to maintain a work-life balance, and research practises. Consequently, long-planned intergovernmental gatherings were cancelled, transportation was suspended, and borders were closed. For instance, in Ghana, while there was a lockdown, all centres and venues where people massively gathered were closed temporarily. The COVID-19 epidemic in Ghana, in the same manner, caused alarm since it left millions of Ghanaians trapped around the world and prevented them from returning home. This made some embassies and consulates employ a lot of digital methods to communicate with them. Thus, the COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the reliance of the modern world on digital tools and technology. The pandemic-related gathering restrictions forced diplomacy, to go online, with many activities being moved online. The disruptive aspect of the epidemic has, in many respects, contributed to the emergence of novel virtual decision-making processes. Traveling restrictions made platforms like Zoom, Google Meet, and others became crucial for international conferences, diplomatic meetings, and decision-making (Adesina, 2022). African nations have embraced digital diplomacy through these virtual methods during this turbulent time. In May 2020, the AU successfully conducted a three-week online seminar titled “Silencing the Guns” (Adesina, 2022). Also, during the pandemic, African leaders—such as President Cyril Ramaphosa of South Africa, the chairman of the African Union, have held many virtual meetings to discuss several topical continental issues with stakeholders.

In Ghana the president, Nana Akuffo Addo communicated via digital platforms such as YouTube, Facebook Live, and Twitter (now X) among others. These channels were used to spread information on repatriation, economic concerns, and health advisories. The government of Ghana also employed these digital platforms to express support for the populace that the global pandemic had forced indoors. These programmes contributed to improving ties between the public and the government. Embassy and foreign affairs organisations continued to face intense pressure to deliver precise and current data about the pandemic.