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 postpresidential 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.