Category General News

Fellow Ghanaians,

I have come into your homes, again, this evening to provide an update, as I promised, on the measures taken by Government to combat the Coronavirus pandemic.

You may recall that on Wednesday, 12th March, 2020, when I first spoke to you directly on this matter, I announced the first raft of enhanced measures taken in response to the pandemic. At the time, there had been no reported, confirmed case of the Coronavirus in Ghana.

Since then, six (6) confirmed cases have been announced, all of people who recently travelled into the country. Advisories on how to manage the developments have also been announced by the Ministries of Health and Information. Public education is being intensified to ensure that citizens are well advised on preventive measures.

Earlier today, Sunday, 15th March, 2020, I chaired a meeting of the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Coronavirus response. After deliberations, I have decided, in the interest of public safety and the protection of our population, to review the public gathering advisories earlier announced as follows:

1.   All public gatherings, including conferences, workshops, funerals, festivals, political rallies, sporting events and religious activities, such as services in churches and mosques, have been suspended for the next four (4) weeks. Private burials are permitted, but with limited numbers, not exceeding twenty-five (25) in attendance;

2.   All Universities, Senior High Schools, and basic schools, i.e. public and private schools, will be closed Monday, 16th March, 2020, till further notice. The Ministry of Education, in collaboration with the Ministry of Communication, has been tasked to roll out distance learning programmes. However, BECE and WASSCE candidates will be allowed to attend school to prepare for their examinations, but with prescribed social distancing protocols;

3.   The Government of Ghana’s Travel Advisory issued earlier today should be observed as announced;

4.   Businesses and other workplaces can continue to operate, but should observe prescribed social distancing between patrons and staff;

5.   Establishments, such as supermarkets, shopping malls, restaurants, night clubs, hotels and drinking spots, should observe enhanced hygiene procedures by providing, amongst others, hand sanitizers, running water and soap for washing of hands;

6.   The Ministry of Transport should work with the transport unions and private and public transport operators to ensure enhanced hygienic conditions in all vehicles and terminals, by providing, amongst others, hand sanitizers, running water and soap for washing of hands; and

7.   The Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development should co-ordinate, with the Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies, measures to enhance conditions of hygiene in markets across the country. 

Additionally, as the experts conduct contact tracing, I appeal to all to co-operate with them to ensure that persons who have come into contact with positive cases are identified and supported.

I have directed the Attorney General to submit, immediately, to Parliament emergency legislation, in accordance with Article 21 (4) (c) & (d) of the Constitution of the Republic, to embody these measures, and I have further directed the Minister for Health to exercise his powers, under section 169 of the Public Health Act, 2012 (Act 851), by the immediate issuance of an Executive Instrument, to govern the relevant measures. I call upon Parliament to support the Executive in this national endeavour.

As I said earlier, there is every need to observe prescribed social distancing and good personal hygiene to prevent community spread. We are determined to do whatever we can to prevent the spread of the virus, and protect the population. All the measures that have been announced will be subject to constant review and enhancement, if necessary.

Fellow Ghanaians, these are not ordinary times, so, let us all put our shoulders to the wheel, and I am confident that, together, by the Grace of God, we shall overcome this challenge.

May God bless us all, and our homeland Ghana, and make her great and strong.

I thank you for your attention.

The President of the Republic, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, has expressed his satisfaction with the measures Government has put in place to deal with the threat of the novel Coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

President Akufo-Addo made this known on Wednesday, 4th March, 2020, when he paid visits to the Kotoka International Airport, the Tema General Hospital and the Greater Accra Regional Hospital.

Accompanied by the Minister for Health, Hon. Kwaku Agyeman Manu, the President’s first port of call was the arrivals terminal of the Kotoka International Airport.

It was revealed by the Health Minister that several stakeholder engagements with the Ghana Airport Company Limited, Ghana Immigration Services, Customs Division of Ghana Revenue Authority, at all the country’s ports of entry, have been held place to strengthen Ghana’s COVID-19 preparedness and surveillance.

The Managing Director of the Ghana Airports Company Ltd, Mr. Yaw Kwakwa, told President Akufo-Addo that, on arrival at the airport, all passengers are screened using thermal scanning devices at the airport, and passengers are also required to fill a health declaration form.

Additionally, the GACL boss indicated that point of entry staff at the airport have been sensitised on case detection and infection prevention and control, together with the creation of a holding room at the airport which is to be utilised to hold suspected COVID-19 cases.

At the Tema General Hospital, one of the hospitals designated as a treatment /isolation centre for the COVID-19 disease, the Medical Director of hospital, Dr. Richard Anthony, told President Akufo-Addo that the Infectious Diseases Unit of the Hospital is “readily prepared for the COVID-19. We have an emergency response team made up of nurses, pharmacists, administrators on standby”.

The President was taken on a tour of the clean room encompassing a changing area for the nurses, as well as the main ward, which did not have any patients as at the time of the visit.

“We have not had any suspected or cases tested in Tema General,” he added.

At the Greater Accra Regional Hospital, another hospital designated as a treatment /isolation centre for the COVID-19 disease, President Akufo-Addo was told that the infectious diseases centre of the hospital “is a full unit, purposely-built and well-designed to hold and quarantine an infectious case.”

The President was made aware of the fact that the emergency response team at the hospital has been activated, with basic medical checks undertaken on every patient who visits the hospital.

“If there is any positive indication of the contraction of a disease, we keep you and we make arrangement for the patient to be transported to this centre. We conduct a test, which involves taking samples and sending it to Noguchi. To date, we have tested about seventeen people who fitted into the case definition. However, luckily, none of them tested positive,” the head of the Centre told President Akufo-Addo

In briefing the President, the Minister of Health stated that public health emergency management structures at all levels, i.e. national, regional, district have been activated and placed on high alert, in addition to the holding of National Technical Co-ordinating Committee meetings.

He added that emergency Operations Centre (EOC) has been activated, alerts have been sent to all regions to activate Public Health Emergency Management Committees (PHEMCs) to initiate preparedness activities and enhance surveillance for respiratory diseases.

Thus far, Hon. Kwaku Agyeman Manu told President Akufo-Addo that forty (40) suspected corona virus cases have been reported and tested. All forty (40), he stressed have tested negative for COVID-19 from Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research (NMIMR) and Kumasi Centre for Collaborative Research (KCCR).

The Ahanta West Municipal Assembly observed the Independence Day with a Match Past Celebration at the Agona Nkwanta Stanford Bridge Park. The Event was very colorful and was well attended by the Pupils and the general public.

The Ahanta West Municipal Assembly in accordance with the Directives by the Western Regional Minister undertook a clean-up exercise within the Municipality. The programme was supported by the Church of Pentecost.

The committee is tasked to spearhead the implementation of policies and directives by the President of the Republic of Ghana in the Country’s fight against the Coviud-19 pandemic.

In accordance with the Local Government Laws, the Ahanta West Municipal Assembly took steps to inaugurate all Six Area councils namely; Agona, Ewusiejoe, Busua, Apowa, Dixcove, Abura Area Councils. This programme was a well-attended one.

Handing over of one-unit KG block to the Ahanta West Municipal Assembly and the People of Pupunie.

Tullow Oil Ghana Handed over a fully furnished One Unit Modern KG block to the People of Pupunie. This is to promote quality education in the Ahanta West Municipality.

The management of the Ahanta West Municipal Assembly organizes an eye screening for its staff.

This is an initiative by Management of the Assembly aimed at ensuring adequate health care for it staff members.

The Ahanta West Municipal Assembly together with Ghana Investment for Electronic Communication (GIFEC) unveiled a fully furnished Information Communication and Technology Laboratory for the Agona S.D.A and Abura M/A Basic Schools.

This initiative is to promote the girls in I.C.T project being undertaken by the Government of Ghana.

Try to find tablets that are made from natural, non-GMO components tonerin složení and go through third-party screening for high quality and pureness.

Training in Occupational Health ad Environmental Management (OSHEM) by the Business Advisory Centre (BAC) and key Stakeholders of the Ahanta West Municipal Assembly for Garages Association at Kokompe – Agona in the Municipality.

This well attended programme with includes health and fire safety measures is an initiative if the BAC aimed at building the capacity of local Artisans in the municipality