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China lifts COVID restrictions: Why does this matter?
There’s no downplaying the significant negative impact the deadly Corona virus (COVID-19) pandemic has had on the global health system and economy.
The robustness of the global public health system was and is still put to the test by the COVID-19, which has been a global pandemic since its breakout in late 2019.
Just to name a few, the COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in a shocking loss of life on a global scale and has presented and continues to present an unparalleled threat to food systems, public health, and the workplace.
The pandemic has had a terrible impact on society and the economy; tens of millions of people face the possibility of living in abject poverty, and the number of undernourished individuals could increase threefold.
As the infection spread, governments across the world tightened containment measures, including introducing screening at ports of entry, quarantine for infected people, and the closure of public gathering places. Multiple countries introduced partial or total lockdowns in the early stages of the pandemic.
The case of China is no different. A country of 1.4 billion definitely has the core responsibility to protect lives and live to fight for the rebound of the economy again. Every nation’s first and foremost priority in the fight against the pandemic has always been the protection of human lives.
Policy? What’s China’s Dynamic Zero-COVID
China, like all countries, wanted to minimize the number of cases of COVID-19 as much as possible. To do this, it carried out mass testing, housed the infected in government facilities, and enacted lockdowns. The government named this the “Policy Dynamic Zero-COVID”.
Policy were to balance socioeconomic stability with the prevention and control of this disease while minimizing the epidemic The key pillars of the Dynamic Zero-COVID’s negative effects on the economy, society, production, and people’s regular lives.
Compared to conventional containment and mitigation measures, this is distinct. The most important thing is that, China was committed to taking comprehensive and effective action to precisely handle localized COVID-19 cases, to immediately break the chain of transmission, and to quickly put an end to the epidemic.
To achieve the greatest impact at the lowest cost, the country implemented precise prevention and control measures to swiftly identify, contain, and treat infected individuals in each cluster outbreak within a particular geographic area. This was done to prevent having an impact on the social and economic development of other regions.
Accordingly, compared to other nations, the number of coronavirus cases and fatalities has been kept low in China. China, with a population of 1.4 billion, has registered nearly 16,000 COVID-19 deaths whiles countries with lesser populations recorded deaths in millions.
Restrictions lifted & why does it matter?
China has announced major policy changes in respect of the “Policy Dynamic Zero-COVID”. Beginning January 8, 2023, most of the restrictions related to the management of COVID-19 will be lifted because of the virus’ mutation, the spread of vaccination, and the accumulation of experience in prevention and control.
The key phrase in the new directives indicates that China is now ready to receive international travellers. At the same time, Chinese travellers can make trips outside of the country. Mandatory testing in public places is no longer the case, making in-country travel easier than before.
This major shift in policy direction has received mixed reactions, and understandably so, when most of the negative reactions are emanating from Western media outlets.
There seems to be an acute bias in reporting aimed at creating a negative narrative against China, first, for implementing COVID-19 restrictions, and then for lifting them. That’s a clear case of double standards.
The relevance of every policy directive issued and implemented by every country in the world during this COVID-19 pandemic is unique and peculiar to that country’s risks with respect to the virus.
China has successfully responded to five worldwide COVID waves over the past three years and has prevented the spread of the original strain and the Delta variation, which is considerably more virulent than the other variants.
From all indications, the ‘”Policy Dynamic Zero-COVID” has successfully worked for China and now provides room for major restrictions to be lifted.
There is no doubt that Covid-19 is still spreading in almost all countries in the world despite some of them having announced that the pandemic is over.
According to the latest data released by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), XBB.1.5 variant accounted for 40.5% of the Covid-19 cases last week, almost doubling from 21.7% in the previous week.The XBB variant of Omicron increase in a fast speed in some countries but they even strangely require passengers departing from China for more restrictions. This is clearly a political act but not based on science and obvious facts.
Governments of all countries should focus on reducing their own cases and increasing vaccination rates, rather than hastily imitating individual countries and taking targeted measures.
Economy, Business & Growth
The world economy is extremely susceptible to any slowdown in China’s economy brought on by COVID-19 limitations. Therefore, it should rather be a welcoming news that China is finally open for trade and people to people exchange.
The recent announcement by the Chinese government to lift the restrictions has ushered in a fresh breath of opportunity, not just for the rebound of the Chinese economy, but for the recovery of the global economy as well.
American, British, German, and other foreign chambers of commerce in China, as well as some foreign diplomatic missions there, are said to have noted that China’s decision to downgrade the management of COVID-19 will pave the way for the resumption of personnel exchange and business travel, rebuild foreign investors’ confidence in the Chinese market, and contribute to the restoration of optimism and reinstating China as a priority investment destination.
Foreign companies have high hopes for their success on the Chinese market in the upcoming year as the country’s COVID-19 policies continue to be improved and the country’s economic recovery gains going up.
The prediction made by J.P. Morgan Asset Management indicates that China’s GDP growth could increase to over 5% in 2023.
With consumer and corporate confidence already on the rise, consumption will be the key driver of China’s economic recovery in 2023.
This certainly present an opportunity for African and Ghanaian businesses to resume full cycle trade with China without any limitations. -GNA
Three days into her work with us, Kwakyewaa became an indispensable member of our team, and our contractors were very pleased with her. She gave them advice on the placement of electrical fittings.
She also contacted a couple of paint specialists and, after joining them to test their quality, we chose their products, which saved me a very substantial amount. On the evening of the third day I drove her home’.
‘Kwakyewaa, we have been so busy we haven’t had the chance to chat’.
‘Yes indeed. I have been hoping we could talk. But why don’t you have your say first’.
‘Okay. The first thing I would like to say is actually a question, and I hope you don’t mind my asking’.
‘Certainly not. Please go ahead’.
‘Well, I, I am really enjoying working with you. You have done quite a lot for us, and I really appreciate that. But I mean that on the personal level, I like being with you, and I wish, er ………….’
‘I like being with you too, apart from the fact that I respect what you are doing, and I wish I could do this on a regular basis. But what about the fact of your relationship with Abena? Even though your relationship is practically over, would it not look funny that within a short time of ending the relationship you quickly grab her cousin?’
‘She’s your cousin, not your sister. And she’s already started a new relationship. Moreover, she doesn’t have any respect for me. You’ve heard the disparaging things she’s being saying about me’.
‘She’s obviously being influenced by Jennifer, but I would have thought that she would at least reflect a little before believing them’.
‘You went to Tech, so you know that this type of thing is common, even though it’s boys who indulge in it. It’s called ‘Takashi’. If you want a girl and you are not confident of winning her normally, you tell her false stories about the guy she’s going out with. Most of the time it doesn’t work, but in this case it has worked. It’s almost funny’. I stopped in front of her home, and just as I was driving off Esaaba called me.
‘David, Mom would like a word with you’. So I locked the car and went in with them.
‘My son David. I learned yesterday that you and Abena have ended your relationship. I wasn’t pleased to hear it, because you know that I have come to regard you as my son. I heard Esaaba and Abena arguing, and when I asked them they said it was due to her decision to stop seeing you. Abena is adamant that she will not change her decision, and in fact she has started going out with another person. So what can I say? I’m glad that you have not stopped coming here, because I want to see you here regularly’.
‘Don’t worry at all Mom. I will be very regular here, and you can always call me whenever you need me’. ‘Thank you, my son. Now, the second thing. I hear Kwakyewaa has started helping you at your office. I also hear that in addition to your job with the EU, you have a big company. I really admire you. You are so humble and hardworking’. ‘Mom, let me tell you this. Kwakyewaa has been extremely helpful to us. She has already made a lot of difference in our work. I am really sorry that she will have to return to France in ten days’ time’. ‘
Ah, but I thought you said you will not allow me to go back. Have you changed your mind? I am thinking of staying for a while’,
‘Ei, Kwakyewaa!’ Esaaba said. ‘What will your parents say? You want to stay for how long?’
‘Mom’, my parents are in London, and I have been in France on my own for two years. I believe that what I’m doing with Bernard is really useful. I’m not even thinking about money. I will stay for a month or two, maybe even three’.
‘Let me correct you there. You will not work for us for one day without being paid. Now, tomorrow, I will take you to my other site, and show you what we are doing there. Then you can take a good decision. For now, Mom, we have something to discuss. Goodnight’.
‘Okay madam Kwakyewaa’, I said as we walked to my car, ‘will you give me a chance? I have really developed feelings for you, and I believe we can get along together. I can assure you that I have nothing to hide, and ……………’
‘You don’t need to talk much. I accept. Unconditionally. Let’s go and take a look at the site tomorrow’.
She called me fifteen minutes after I left their house.
‘David, I’ve told Esaaba. She’s very surprised, and very excited. So it’s official now. She wants to talk with you.
‘Bernard, do you know how I will call what you’ve just done? It’s a smooth transfer, within the same family. Congrats, I’m happy for you’.
These legal provisions strongly resonate with Islamic teachings on the protection of the vulnerable, particularly children and victims of abuse.
The Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) emphatically condemned all forms of exploitation and injustice. He said: “Allah will be against three persons on the Day of Resurrection… one who sells a free person and consumes his price” (Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī). This Hadith directly condemns practices akin to human trafficking, where individuals are commodified for profit.
Additionally, the Prophet (pbuh) stated: “Whoever does not show mercy to our young ones… is not one of us” (Tirmidhī), underscoring the obligation to protect children from harm. These teachings reinforce that exploitation, abuse, and coercion are grave sins in Islam.
Synthesis
While Ghana’s legal frameworks are robust and aligned with both international standards and Islamic ethical principles, the implementation gap remains the primary challenge. Bridging this gap requires not only strengthening legal enforcement but also integrating ethical, religious, and community-based mobilization to reshape societal attitudes and enhance vigilance against trafficking.
The Strategic Role of Religious Leadership
Religious leaders occupy a uniquely influential position within society, functioning not only as spiritual guides but also as custodians of moral order and social cohesion. They command significant social capital, derived from deep-rooted trust, legitimacy, and continuous engagement with community members. In many contexts, they are perceived as intermediaries between the divine and humanity, entrusted with overseeing critical life events such as childbirth, marriage, burial rites, and conflict resolution. This positions them as indispensable actors in shaping both private conduct and public morality.
Theoretical Significance
Within Islamic sociology, religious leaders act as norm entrepreneurs, shaping:
• Moral consciousness by interpreting religious texts in contemporary contexts
• Social norms by defining acceptable and unacceptable behaviour
• Behavioural compliance through moral persuasion and spiritual accountability
Their authority extends beyond ritual functions to influencing socio-political attitudes, making them key agents in combating systemic injustices such as human trafficking.
Why religious leaders are vital in combating human trafficking
Trust and Legitimacy: Communities are more likely to accept guidance from religious leaders than from state institutions alone.
Grassroots Reach: Regular gatherings (e.g., Friday prayers, naming ceremonies, officiating marriages and burial services) provide direct access to large audiences. Religious leaders have access to the entire communities through the roles they play in societies.
Moral Framing: They can redefine trafficking not just as a crime, but as a grave sin (ḥarām), thereby strengthening deterrence.
Cultural Influence: They shape attitudes toward family decisions, migration, and child welfare key entry points for traffickers.
Conflict Mediation Role: Their involvement in family and communal disputes enables early detection of vulnerability and exploitation risks.
Practical Interventions
Normative Reframing
Clearly articulate human trafficking as a severe violation of Islamic principles, emphasizing accountability before Allah.
Sermonic Advocacy (Khutbahs)
Institutionalize anti-trafficking education within sermons, linking scriptural teachings to contemporary realities.
Community Surveillance and Early Warning Systems
Encourage congregants to report suspicious movements or deceptive recruitment practices, fostering collective vigilance.
Imamship Counselling and Family Guidance
Imams provide advisory support to families, particularly in rural areas, to resist false promises of employment or education.
Intersectoral Collaboration
Build partnerships with government agencies, NGOs, and international organizations such as the International Justice Mission to align moral advocacy with legal enforcement.
Victim Reintegration Support
Facilitate stigma reduction and social reintegration of survivors through compassionate community engagement.
In sum, religious leaders are not merely passive moral voices but strategic actors in social transformation. Their integration into anti-trafficking efforts bridges the gap between law and lived reality, ensuring that legal prohibitions are reinforced by moral conviction and community action.
Ethical Foundations (Conceptual Analysis)
Religious interventions against human trafficking must be firmly grounded in the theological and ethical attributes of Allah, which serve as the ultimate source of moral guidance in Islam. These divine attributes are not merely abstract concepts but functional principles that shape human conduct and social responsibility.
• Al-‘Adl (The Just)
Allah is perfectly just, and His justice (‘adl) denotes absolute fairness, balance, and the uncompromising rejection of oppression (ẓulm). In practical terms, this attribute obligates believers especially religious leaders to actively confront injustice in all its forms. Humantrafficking, which thrives on exploitation, coercion, and inequality, stands in direct opposition to divine justice. Grounding interventions in Al-‘Adl therefore requires advocating for accountability, supporting legal enforcement, and ensuring that perpetrators are brought to justice while victims receive their rightful protection.
• Ar-Raḥmān (The Universally Merciful)
Allah’s mercy (raḥmah) encompasses all creation, reflecting compassion, care, and benevolence without limitation. This attribute establishes an ethical imperative to respond to victims of trafficking with empathy, dignity, and restorative support. Religious leaders, drawing from Ar- Raḥmān, are called to prioritize healing, rehabilitation, and reintegration, ensuring that survivors are not stigmatized but rather supported in rebuilding their lives. Mercy here extends beyond charity to structured compassion that restores human dignity.
• Al-Ḥafīẓ (The Preserver and Protector)
Allah as Al-Ḥafīẓ signifies ultimate guardianship, preservation, and protection over all beings. This attribute places a collective responsibility on society to safeguard the vulnerable particularly
Women, children, and marginalized groups who are most at risk of trafficking. For religious leaders, embodying this attribute involves proactive vigilance, community education, and the establishment of protective mechanisms that prevent exploitation before it occurs.
Synthesis
When religious leadership is anchored in these divine attributes, it transcends passive moral instruction and evolves into active ethical stewardship. Justice demands resistance to exploitation, mercy ensures compassionate care for victims, and protection mandates preventive action.
Together, these principles transform religious leaders into powerful agents of social justice, capable of mobilizing communities toward the eradication of human trafficking.
Maqāṣid al-Sharīʿah and Human Trafficking (Conceptual Analysis)
What is Maqāṣid al-Sharīʿah?
Maqāṣid al-Sharīʿah refers to the higher objectives and overarching purposes of Islamic law,which are fundamentally designed to secure human welfare (maṣlaḥah) and prevent harm (mafsadah). Rather than focusing solely on legal rules, this framework emphasizes the ethical spirit and societal outcomes of Sharīʿah.
Classical scholars such as al-Ghazālī and al-Shāṭibīsystematized these objectives into five universal protections: religion (dīn), life (nafs), intellect(‘aql), lineage (nasl), and wealth (māl). These are regarded as essential necessities (ḍarūriyyāt) forthe preservation of a just and functional society (Shinkafi & Ali, 2017; Malik, 2015).
Importantly, Maqāṣid al-Sharīʿah provides a dynamic and policy-relevant framework, enabling Islamic law to address contemporary challenges such as human trafficking by prioritizing justice, dignity, and human flourishing.
