Make mask wearing mandatory

The President of the Bono, Bono East and Ahafo Regional House of Chiefs, Pimampim Yaw Kagbrese, has challenged metropolitan, municipal and district assemblies (MMDAs) to ensure the enforcement of mandatory wearing of face masks in a bid to halt the spread of COVID-19.

According to him, the wearing of face masks and the practising of social distancing was the surest way to halt the spread of the deadly COVID-19 disease.

Pimampim Kagbrese, who is also the Omanhene of the Yeji Traditional Area, was speaking when the Bono East Regional Minister, Mr Kofi Amoakohene, paid a working visit to his palace at Yeji in the Pru East District as part of his four-day tour of the region.

Results of 44 suspected cases of COVID-19 out of the 111 recorded in the Bono East Region, including contacts of a confirmed case from the Upper East Region have tested negative while the remaining 67 are still pending.

Visit

The visit of the minister, who is also a Member of Parliament for Atebubu-Amantin, was to enable him to monitor activities of the various district assemblies and their preparedness in fighting COVID-19.

Mr Amoakohene also interacted with some traders and drivers at the various markets and lorry stations at Yeji, Prang in the Pru West District and Atebubu-Amantin Municipality and advised them to observe protocols put in place by the World Health Organisation (WHO), especially social distancing, to help prevent the spread of the disease.

The minister and his entourage also visited facilities identified for mandatory quarantine at the various districts.

The municipal and district chief executives (MDCEs) were given the chance to brief the minister on the preventive measures put in place by the assemblies to help stop the spread of the disease or manage the virus during an outbreak in the region.

Face masks

Pimampim Kagbrese expressed concern about people not obeying the wearing of the face mask and advised Ghanaians to comply with the directive in order to contain the spread of the virus.

He also challenged the assemblies to make the use of face masks compulsory in their jurisdictions and punish persons who failed to wear them.

Pimampim Kagbrese pledged the support of chiefs to ensure that people wore face masks in public places such as markets and lorry stations.

Don't be complacent

Mr Amoakohene advised people in the region not to be complacent in the fight against COVID-19 but continue to adhere to the precautionary measures outlined by WHO and the Ghana Health Service (GHS).

"Let us abide by all the laid down protocols and be vigilant daily as we confront this great challenge of our generation. It is our behaviour and response that will assist us win or lose the battle," he stated.

Mr Amoakohene was happy with measures put in place by the various assemblies in the region to handle COVID-19 cases should the disease spread to the area.

He commended the chiefs and people in the region for supporting the government's efforts to fight the disease and advised them to continue to encourage the people to observe preventive protocols.