He made the statement in his opening address at a National Consultative Meeting on Covid-19 organized by PUC at Alisa Hotel in Accra.

According to Prof. Kyei, ‘when everywhere in the world became unsafe, Africans particularly Ghanaians rose to the occasion and developed simple devices that have effectively complemented the fight against the Covid-19 pandemic’. He cited nose masks, sanitizers, handwashing devices and others that Africans developed in a spontaneous response to the pandemic. ‘But for Covid-19 that made so-called advanced countries unsafe, we would have imported these items without realizing our own abilities to produce them’- Prof Kyei.

He went further to say that the pandemic has changed our vocabulary for good. He said words like sanitize, social distancing have become common even among children. This, he said, will help in defeating other contagious diseases like malaria that have plagued Africa for many years.

He concluded that as we defeat centuries’ old communicable disease, use our innovation instincts and destroy the myths about advanced countries, post-Covid-19 new ‘normal’ will be for Africa’s prosperity.

The 20^th Annual Tax Conference, which was scheduled to hold from May 8 – 11, 2018 in Nigeria, was organised under the theme: Institutionalising Tax-Paying Culture in a Developing Economy. It created an avenue for participants to brainstorm, generate and share professional ideas, not only on taxation issues, but also on related national issues that are necessary for the attainment and sustenance of vibrant socio-economic development.

Professor Omane-Antwi, together with Mr. Kofi Nti, contributed to the Conference during the Session on “The Imperatives of a Robust Fiscal and Regulatory Framework for the Petroleum Industry in Uncertain Times� by sharing the experiences of Ghana as regards Taxation in the Oil and Gas Sector.

According to Prof Omane-Antwi, “it was good feeling discussing and sharing experiences in Ghana in such a Conference�.

The forum, in the past, provided an avenue for decision makers in Government and private sector to make objective and feasible decisions when faced with the reality of making fundamental micro or macroeconomic decisions.

This year’s Conference wasn’t different.