COVID-19 cases in Ghana rise to 2,074, 17 deaths with 212 recoveries

The number of COVID-19 cases in Ghana has increased to 2,074.

This means that 403 new cases have been recorded in the country.

The number of recovered persons has risen to 212.

One more person has also succumbed to the virus, according to the Ghana Health Service, pegging the death toll at 17.

The Greater Accra Region currently has the highest number of cases, followed by the Ashanti and Eastern Regions.

Regional breakdown

Count of Cases per Region

(Case Count from Highest to Lowest)

• Greater Accra Region – 1,795
• Ashanti Region – 99
• Eastern Region – 70
• Central Region – 21
• Oti Region – 19
• Upper East Region – 19
• Volta Region – 16
• Northern Region – 13
• Upper West Region – 10
• Western Region – 9
• North East Region – 2
• Western North Region – 1
• Savannah Region – 0
• Bono Region – 0
• Ahafo Region – 0
• Bono East Region – 0

Global situation 

Coronavirus continues to spread across the world, with more than three million confirmed cases in 185 countries and some 200,000 deaths.

Figures collated by the John Hopkins University show that the US has the largest number of cases and the world’s highest death toll. It has so far confirmed one million infections with nearly 60,000 fatalities.

The UK, Spain, Italy and France which have all recorded more than 20,000 deaths, are the worst-hit European countries

The virus was initially detected in Wuhan, a city in China, in late 2019.

Source: citinewsroom.com

COVID-19: We can’t open schools if it’s not safe – Adutwum

A Deputy Minister of Education in-charge of Basic and Secondary Education, Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum believes the reopening of schools should be delayed a little longer to ensure the safety of students in the wake of COVID-19.

Older students in China’s biggest cities and other countries in the world are starting to return to school, following the coronavirus outbreak.

Dr. Adutwum on Citi TV’s Point of View, however, advised against pressurizing government into taking a similar decision in Ghana.

The Deputy Minister said the closure was a safety measure devised by the government to prevent a spread of the virus in schools and should be in force until scientific data suggests otherwise.

“At this point, what I will say is that we all need to do our part to make sure the President and together with the country, win the fight against COVID-19. Everything we are saying here is not because someone does not want to do something. We are running this country and we are fighting this fight based on science and facts. If the environment is not safe for students to be in school, you cannot be in school.”

“It is not like during the military regime in our times when universities were closed for political reasons. That is when you could appeal to the government and say can you open the universities for us? It was a political decision. The safety of the students was not at stake. The lives of the students were not at stake. I do not want us to stampede those who are leading the fight but rather pray for them and ask them when the environment is safe, based on the data, based on the facts, based on the science, please tell us to go back to school and we will gladly do so. We should not be seen as saying can we go as if we are making independent decisions aside of COVID-19,” Dr. Adutwum explained.

Nana Addo’s directive 

President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo directed schools in the country to shut down effective Monday, March 16, 2020.

The President gave the order when he addressed the nation on Sunday, March 15, 2020.

“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,” he said.

President Akufo-Addo, however, said students who will be taking part in this year’s Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) and the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) “will be allowed to attend school to prepare for their examinations, but with prescribed social distancing protocols.”

But this decision was later reviewed allowing such students to go home.

Currently, this year’s WASSCE has been put on hold.

Source: citinewsroom.com

C/R: Residents protest against siting of COVID-19 isolation centre at Odukpong Ofaakor

The Chiefs and people of Odukpong Ofaakor have protested against the use of the Odukpong Ofaakor Senior High School as an isolation centre for persons with COVID-19.

According to the angry demonstrators, who gathered at the Odukpong Senior High School in the late hours of Wednesday said they will protest the move until authorities rescind the decision.

“The church of Pentecost has given about 250,000 acres of land to the government to be used as an isolation centre for persons with COVID-19 and so I don’t know why they are bent on using this facility as a centre since this facility is located inside a community,” Dr. Kofi Akotia Obeng, the spokesperson for the Odukpong Ofaakor Traditional Council told Citi News.

Dr. Obeng also said that Authorities at the Awutu Senya East Municipality did not inform them before taking the decision hence their protest.

He indicated that authorities must instead take the persons infected with Coronavirus to the Pentecost Convention Centre set aside as an isolation centre.

“If anything at all the Municipal Chief Executive, the Municipal Director of Education and all those involved should have made us aware of their decision. But they failed to do so and all that we heard was that Policemen had come to the school with mattresses and were going to use the school as an isolation centre but our people are saying they are not going to agree.”

“This land belongs to Nai Odukpong Awushie Tetteh II and so we must be aware of any decision that is taking place on our land. As the chairman to the board of governor’s to the school, I was not informed and it doesn’t work like that. So we saying that Odukpong land belongs to Odukpong people and the Odukpong people led by Nai Odukpong Awushie Tetteh II are saying that they don’t agree,” Dr. Obeng noted.

According to Dr. Kofi Akotia Obeng, if authorities fail to heed to their pleas they would demonstrate as a way of showing their displeasure with the matter.

An angry resident who spoke to Citi News indicated their readiness to spend the night at the School premises until authorities adhere to their decision.

“We are ready to sleep in the school to prevent authorities from bringing persons with COVID-9 to the school,” Samuel Dagba, a resident of Odukpong Ofaakor told Citi News.

Similar protests over possible isolation centres occurred elsewhere with the Chiefs and people of Brafoyaw, a community in the Central Region, for example, kicking against the use of Aggrey Memorial Zion Senior High School as an isolation camp for COVID-19 patients.

The community felt such a facility would be a threat to their lives.

Also, Bishop Titi-Ofei, the General Overseer of the Pleasant Place Church, was forced to withdraw his offer of a 100-bed capacity structure to be used as an isolation centre for COVID-19 patients at Baatsona after protests by residents who live close to the donated building.

Source: citinewsroom.com

Achimota Hospital staff being mandatorily tested after food vendors test positive for COVID-19

Every health worker and staff at the Achimota Hospital is undergoing mandatory testing for COVID-19 after 10 food vendors and three taxicab drivers tested positive for the virus.

This has compelled the management of the hospital to direct all doctors, surgeons, nurses, and other health staff to as well as the hospital community to be tested mandatorily.

Sources within the hospital say a majority of the hospital staff buy food from the vendors while over 80 per cent of patients who visit the hospital use the taxi services.

It is not clear whether the hospital would be shut down to the public in the interim as the health authorities try to get a clearer picture of the extent of the infection among the people who frequent the compound as staff, food vendors or taxicab operators.

So far, Ghana has recorded 1,671 cases with eleven deaths and 188 recoveries, according to data from the Ghana Health Service.

Source: Ghanaweb.com

Newly trained teachers lament over five months salary arrears

Newly trained teachers recruited by the Ghana Education Service (GES) are calling on the government to as a matter of urgency, settle all arrears owed them.

According to them, they have been paid a month out of their five-month salary arrears since they were employed in December 2019.

The leader of the teachers, Ekow Djan said they want relevant stakeholders to ensure that the Controller and Accountant General’s Department settle the arrears.

“We were employed in December 2019 and on our appointment letters, it was stated that we were to start work on 1st December, 2019. So by extension, if the government should pay us, they should pay us from December onwards. But what we realised was that the government paid only April salary and we don’t know what the reason is. Already, we’ve tried to speak with them and they are not giving us any tangible reason but the concern is that government was supposed to pay us for five months arrears but they rather paid only one month. So we are just calling on the government to as a matter of urgency ensure that they settle the remaining four months for us,” he appealed.

Trained teachers threaten to sue NSS

Before their employment in December, these teachers who were then serving as national service personnel threatened to drag the National Service Secretariat (NSS) to court over what they termed as illegal deductions from their June allowances.

This was after a charge of GH¢35.00 was deducted when they submitted their June allowance form to their various district offices to cater for the cost of the Lacoste and dues at GH¢20.00 and GH¢15.00 respectively.

According to the teachers, they weren’t informed prior to the deductions and were up in arms over what they said was a deliberate attempt to force a nylon Lacoste and association dues on them.

Ekow Djan who spoke to Citi News said their members did not sign up for the national service week celebration which the amount is being deducted for.

Source: citinewsroom.com

COVID-19 cases in Ghana rise to 1,671, recoveries increase to 188 with 16 deaths

Ghana’s COVID-19 cases have increased to 1,671.

The number of recovered persons has also gone up to 188.

This was disclosed by the Director-General of the Ghana Health Service (GHS), Dr. Patrick Aboagye at a press briefing on Tuesday, April 28, 2020.

The development means that 121 new cases have been confirmed.

“Ghana currently has 1,671 cases confirmed as at this morning. Out of this 568 has come from general surveillance which those who fall ill and approached the hospital and were tested. 105 still remains part of the earlier quarantined in Tamale and those we have from the enhanced tracing that’s the group that we actually went out to look for, we found a 1,113 bringing our total to 1,671. Currently, about 1,461 are well or no symptoms and are responding very well to treatment. We have about six who are moderate to critically ill, two (2) at UGMC, three (3) in Ga East, and one (1) in Korle-bu as we speak today all the other part of the country we do not have any other critical cases. For recoveries, we have recovered about 188 all these people have recovered and we are waiting on more for the second test to be discharged,” the Director-General of GHS said.

The Director-General also disclosed that Ghana has recorded five new deaths from the disease raising the death toll to 16.

He, however, said that the results are being validated.

Regional breakdown

• Greater Accra – 1,433
• Ashanti Region – 84
• Eastern Region – 57
• Upper East Region -18
• Oti Region -17
• Central Region – 17
• Northern  Region – 13
• Volta Region – 11
• Western Region – 9
• Upper West Region – 8
• North East Region – 2
• Western North Region – 1

Source: citinewsroom.com

Two national security personnel, dismissed soldier, 6 others arrested for robbery

Police in Asankragwa led by the Divisional Crime Officer Superintendent Henry Agbeve have arrested nine persons, including two National Security personnel for robbing miners near Atalla of their gold concentrate.

The suspects are: Anas Adams, 35 years, a National Security personnel of Jubilee House operations; George Ohene Adjei 56, driver, Jonathan Aryer 28, unemployed; Agyeman Jackson, 29, unemployed and Isaac Okuampah 29, painter.

The rest are George Osei 35, National Security, Asomdwe park Accra; Patrick Fordjour 29, taxi driver, Kumasi; and Samuel Obeng 35, an allegedly dismissed soldier from the army.

The Police in a report said the suspects were arrested on Saturday 25 April 2020 on the Asankragwa - Wasa Dunkwa road onboard an unregistered black Toyota Land Cruiser Prado but one Kofi Asante who allegedly led the gang managed to escape.

A search onboard the vehicle revealed a vehicle number plate with registration number AS 6646-20, gold concentrate in five gallons, 15 mobile phones, various foreign currencies, and four bags in which there were two military uniforms.

It is alleged that Samuel Obeng wore one of the uniforms bearing the rank of a Sergeant whiles Agyeman Jackson wore one with the rank of a Private.

Preliminary investigation revealed that the gang arrived at a mining site near ATALLA, about two hours drive from Asankragwa, with some dressed in the military uniforms, subjected some of the workers to beating, handcuffed and tied them with ropes and abandoned them to their fate and robbed them of their gold concentrate.

After the act, the supposed soldiers folded the military uniforms into their respective bags and fled in their vehicle.

The workers managed to free themselves and ran away.

The Police visited the scene and managed to retrieve the damaged handcuffs and the workers informed police that the suspects came there to rob them of their gold concentrate.

The suspects are in custody whilst the vehicle and all other items retained. Meanwhile, the Divisional Commander, Chief Supt Nana Kumi has informed one Col. Opoku (RTD) of National Security, Jubilee House about the arrest and detention of suspects Anas Adams and George Osei both of National Security, Jubilee House Operations.

Investigations are ongoing.

Source: Ghanaweb.com

Airports likely to be opened for domestic flights this weekend – Aviation Minister

The Aviation Minister, Kofi Adda has hinted that domestic flights may resume this weekend.

He explains that the Ghana Airport Company Limited has put in place precautionary measures at all airports in the country.

Speaking to the media during a disinfection exercise at the airport by waste management company, Zoomlion Ghana Limited, Aviation Minister Kofi Adda said the reopening of Ghana’s airport for business will begin with allowing domestic flights to operate.

“The airport company, led by the port health officials would make sure that all the things that need to be installed to support the implementation of the protocol would take place. All the hand washing devices, sanitizers, and anything that needs to be done would be made available. And that would be checked by the airport company and port health officials to ensure that all that is in place before we start operating. We are deliberately doing this because we want to start domestic flights first.”

“In all of Africa, we are the only country that closed down the airport and is about to begin so we have to make sure that we do it well and right so we can lead the way and set the example for other African countries to follow. Perhaps getting towards the weekend, we’ll now begin the domestic flights,” he noted.

The Minister also added that foreign embassies and commissions in the country who would want to evacuate their citizens will be allowed to do so under a special arrangement.

He stated that, “permission will be granted to foreign embassies who want to evacuate their personnel as we’ve been doing. As and when they get permission and bring their personnel here, we’ll do what we normally do to ensure that the right thing is done to get them out of the country.”

Closure of borders

The fast-spreading novel coronavirus outbreak in Ghana has called for stringent measures to prevent its spread, which includes the closure of borders to stop the imports of the disease into the country.

Ghana announced new travel protocols when the detected cases stood at seven.

Travellers who had been in coronavirus-hit countries with cases exceeding 200 within the 14 days preceding their arrival were barred from entering the country.

The admissible travellers who exhibit symptoms of the novel coronavirus were to be quarantined and tested upon reaching Ghana.

The government said airlines had been instructed not to allow such persons into the country.

It also said travel to Ghana was strongly discouraged.

But when the number of cases increased to 21, President Nana Akufo-Addo instructed that all borders be closed, which is still in place till date.

“All our borders; by land, sea and air, will be closed to human traffic for the next two weeks beginning midnight on Sunday,” he said in an address to the nation on Saturday, March 21.

The border closure which initially was to last for two weeks was not to affect the import of goods, supplies and cargo.

The directive was later extended indefinitely.

Source: citinewsroom.com

COVID-19: Enact by-laws to enforce mandatory use of face masks – V/R MDAs ordered

The Volta Regional Coordinating Council has directed Municipal and District Assemblies to “immediately enact appropriate by-laws” to make the wearing of face masks mandatory in most sections of public life.

In a statement, the council said the by-laws are to cover all staff, public officers and clients of the assemblies and ensure they “wear face masks in the conduct of their official businesses.”

Commercial drivers and their passengers are to wear face masks at all time as well as “every member of the public transacting any business with any security agency should wear a face mask.”

The statement urged assemblies to “intensify education on the wearing of face masks, the use of alcohol-based hand sanitisers and social distancing in their respective jurisdictions.”

“Notices of ‘no face masks no entry’ should be visibly displayed at vantage points at all public and commercial entities including shops, malls, supermarkets among others,” the council also directed.

The Greater Accra Region took the lead on this front by making the wearing of face masks in public places mandatory within the region.

The Cape Coast Metropolitan Assembly in the Central Region also made the wearing of face masks mandatory from Monday, April 27, 2020.

All public and private institutions in the region were instructed by the Assembly to begin a ‘No Face Mask, No Entry’ policy.

Since then, the government has directed the wearing of face masks at facilities accessible by the public.

A statement from the Ghana Health Service issued on behalf of the Minister of Health explained that the order was in line with the Public Health Act.

“Pursuant to section 169 of the Public Health Act, 2013 (Act 851), the Minister responsible for Health by an Executive Instrument (E.I.61) declared COVID-19 a public health emergency. Section 170 (1) provides that the Minister of Health may order an individual to take a preventive measure in respect of public health matters.”

Ghana’s novel coronavirus case count currently stands at 1,550.

Source: citinewsroom.com