Three Ghanaians die of COVID-19 in Italy, Denmark— Minister of Foreign Affairs

Three Ghanaians living outside the country have lost their lives after contracting the COVID-19.

Two died in Italy, while the other person died in Copenhagen, Denmark.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Ms Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, confirmed those deaths outside
Ghana when she addressed the press outside Parliament on the global pandemic which has affected 208,550 people, with 8,312 deaths.

“The first one was a 69-year-old Ghanaian,” she confirmed, declining, however, to give any further details of the victims.

Italy is one of the European countries worst hit by the pandemic, with the number of people who have contracted the disease now 31,506, with 2,503 deaths recorded.

Denmark has also recorded 1,091 cases, with four deaths.

No emergency for now

The Minister of Foreign Affairs, who is also the Member of Parliament (MP) for Anyaa-Sowutuom, said currently people all over the world were not living in ordinary times, hence the need for Ghanaians abroad to heed every piece of advice to protect themselves against infection by the COVID-19.

She said Ghana’s missions across the world were currently offering special advisory services to Ghanaians to strictly observe the regulations and pieces of advice governing the areas where they were living by not going to crowded areas, staying at home and ensuring personal hygiene.

She gave an assurance that should there be any emergency situation that required the evacuation of Ghanaians back home, the government would definitely take all the precautionary measures and move in to “assist our nationals”.

“But, for now, there is no emergency situation,” she said.

Curtailing importation

Ms Botchwey further indicated that in a bid to stop the importation of the infection into the country, her ministry, through Ghana’s missions, had advised Ghanaians everywhere to stay put, unless in emergency cases that required them to come back home.

“We have advised those who have finished their tours of duty and are supposed to come home to stay on for a month. If after one month the disease is still raging, we will give them more time to stay,” she explained.

She added that Ghana’s consular offices in most parts of the world, especially countries with high cases of the COVID-19, had shut down in a bid to minimise the spread of the disease.

“We have also suspended issuing passports, unless in emergency situations,” she said, pointing out that Ghanaians living in epicentres of the pandemic were being informed that they would be allowed into the country.

“But once they arrive, they must go into either mandatory or self-quarantine for 14 days. This is because we do not want further importation of the disease, since we all know that all the confirmed cases recorded in Ghana involved people who have come from outside,” she said.

Travel restrictions

The minister said the government was strictly implementing the travel restrictions, particularly on foreigners coming from countries that had recorded over 200 cases of the disease.

“The airlines have been informed and so they will not even allow any foreigner to embark on a journey. That restriction cannot be imposed on Ghanaians, as they need to return home if they have to, but when they arrive, they will not just go to their homes, especially those coming from countries with over 200 cases of the disease.

“They will be quarantined, for which reason they have to advise themselves and be prepared to come and stay indoors in isolation for 14 days,” she stressed.