Ghana confronts Coronavirus head on

The President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, has banned all public gatherings for the next four weeks in response to the confirmation of four more coronavirus disease (COVID – 19) cases in the country.

The public gatherings include conferences, workshops, funerals, festivals, political rallies, sporting events as well as religious events such as services in churches and mosques.

“All public gatherings, including conferences, workshops, funerals, festivals, political rallies, sporting events and religious events such as services in churches and mosques have been suspended for the next four weeks,” the President announced in a televised broadcast at exactly 10 p. m. on Sunday.

The President said private burials, which is a heavy cultural usage in Ghana, were permitted but with limited numbers, not exceeding 25 in attendance.

Schools closed down

The President also directed that all universities, senior high schools, basic schools – private and public – were all closed from today until further notice.

President Akufo-Addo said he had tasked the Ministry of Education in collaboration with the Ministry of Communications to roll out distance learning programmes.

The exception, the President stated, was for candidates of the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) and the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) candidates would be allowed to attend school to prepare for the examinations, but with the prescribed social distancing protocols.

The President said the government’s travel advisory issued earlier yesterday should be observed as announced.

Further, President Akufo-Addo said, “businesses and other work places can continue to operate but should observe prescribed social distancing between patrons and staff.”

Similarly, establishments such as supermarkets, shopping malls, restaurants, night clubs, hotels and drinking spots were allowed to operate but should observe enhanced hygiene procedures by providing amongst others, hand sanitisers, running water and soap for washing of hands.

The President added that the Ministry of Transport, he had directed, should work with transport unions of private and public transport operators to ensure enhanced hygienic conditions in all vehicles and terminals by providing, among others hand sanitisers, running water and soap for washing of hands.

Local level

The Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development is not left out of the hook as they would coordinate with the Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) measures to enhance conditions of hygiene in markets across the country.

“Additionally as the experts conduct contact tracing, I appeal to all to cooperate with them to ensure that persons who have come into contact with positive cases are identified and supported,” the President said.

Legal backing

To provide legal backing to the measures, the President said “I have directed the Attorney General to submit a legal bill to Parliament Emergency Legislation in accordance with Article 21 (4)(c) and (d) of the Constitution of the Republic to embody these measures”.

“And I further direct the Minister of Health to exercise his powers under section 169 of the Public Service Act, 2012 (Act 851) by the immediate issuance of an Executive Instrument to govern the relevant proffers.

President Akufo-Addo called on Parliament to support the Executive in the national endeavour.

Observe these protocols

The President reiterated the need for everyone to observe the prescribed social distancing and good personal hygiene to prevent community spread, saying “We are determined to do whatever we can to prevent the spread of the virus and protect the population.”

President Akufo-Addo added that all the measure that had been announced would be subject to constant review and enhancement if necessary.

The President reiterated: “these are not ordinary times” and asked everybody to put their shoulders to the wheel, expressing the confidence that “together, by the Grace of God, we shall overcome this challenge.”

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