DO PRESIDENTIAL SPEECHES MATTER DURING UNCERTAINTIES? EVIDENCE FROM THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC

Abstract

Purpose –– This study contributes to the fight and management of the deadly COVID-19 pandemic by investigating the association between knowledge sharing through intermittent Presidential speeches and COVID-19 active cases and deaths in Ghana. Methods –– The study relied on seemingly real-time quantitative time series secondary data and the ordinary least squares (OLS) regression method with robust standard errors for the estimation of the model. Findings –– The results show evidence of a negative and statistically significant relationship between pre- and post-presidential COVID-19 speeches, and the number of COVID-19 active cases and deaths. Conclusion & Recommendation –– Timely and periodic presidential speeches can be adopted as one of the management measures adopted to inform and educate citizens in the fight against the pandemic. Keywords –– Presidential Address, Presidential Speech, COVID-19, Cases, Deaths, Ghana.