Ghana is West Africa’s most impacted nation behind Nigeria, at a point in May 2020, Ghana led the regional case load. June has started with progressive lifting of more virus restrictions.
President Akufo-Addo in his tenth address announced that whiles borders remained closed, some categories of academic institutions are allowed to resume, religious places can also reopen with strict conditions and the observance of health protocols.
Social gatherings -weddings, funerals etc. – are to be allowed under certain conditions – among others with maximum 100 participants. As the 2020 polls loom, even political activity is allowed to be undertaken.
This article will be focused on tracking case increases and major developments from the West African country. It will build on our April – May 2020 updates page.
July 8: 21,968 cases; CJ self-isolates, ministry closes
Chief Justice Kwasi Anin-Yeboah has gone into self-isolation according to local media portals. The Judicial secretary in a statement said the CJ was doing so “in compliance with COVID-19 protocols.”
President Akufo-Addo is still isolating after he was exposed to the virus over the weekend. Education and Health Ministers have been released from the University of Ghana Medical Center, UGMC; where they were receiving virus treatment.
The call for high schools to close have been heightened after Accra Girls Senior High School recorded infections earlier this week. The minority in parliament is calling for the closure of schools whiles the reported virus-related death of a student has led to the dismissal of a school head in the Ashanti region.
Employees of the Ministry of Finance have been asked to work from home as the ministry waits for results of tests taken by all staff. An internal memo to all staff said staff who test positive for the virus will be informed “and will receive the necessary care from appropriate health authorities designated by the Minister of Health.”
“In view of the preparations towards the mid-year review of the budget, a core team of staff will work from approved location to complete the Mid-Year Review,” the memo also noted.
While the Finance Ministry is taking a precautionary measure, other outfits like the Ghana Cocoa Board’s Accra office was closed after infections as was the case with Tema office of the Ghana Grid Company, GridCo; and the Bulk Oil Storage and Transportation Company Limited, BOST.
Meanwhile, a one-time Finance Minister and current “Senior Minister” at the office of the president Yaw Osafo-Maafo became the latest top government official to test positive for the virus, government confirmed his infection on Tuesday.
- Confirmed cases = 21,968
- Active cases = 4,683
- Recoveries = 17,156
- Number of deaths = 129
John Hopkins Uni stats valid as of June 12, 2020
July 6: 20,085; prez self-isolates
The number of cases in the country passed the 20,000 mark. Only the fourth African country to hit that figure – behind South Africa, Egypt and Nigeria.
Ghana has thus consolidated its place as Africa’s fourth most-impacted country. Recoveries are heading to the 15,000 mark whiles deaths are at 122 according to records released on Sunday, July 5.
President Akufo-Addo is on self-isolation after a close aide tested positive for COVID-19, the information ministry announced over the weekend.
Parents have thronged a school in the capital Accra after reports emerged that six students of Accra Girls High School had contracted the virus. A batch of final year students resumed classes last week as government continued to ease lockdown measures.
Meanwhile, concerns continue to be raised over ongoing voter registration exercise which many fear could lead to spike in cases across the country. Most people visiting these centers have openly flouted mask wearing orders and physical distancing rules.
Total confirmed cases = 20,085
Total recoveries = 14,870
Total deaths = 122
Active cases = 5,093
July 2: 18,134 cases; protocol flouting in voter registration
The Electoral Commission insists it has done well in managing coronavirus safety protocols at registration centers amid ongoing voter registration exercise across the country.
The EC got the apex court’s go-ahead to conduct a new registration exercise after a case brought by the main opposition NDC was dismissed. Concerns continue to be raised over the conduct of people who went to centers to register.
Photos shared on social media showed that virus protocols were being flouted in many places with people crowded at some centers with disregard for basic social distancing. Most of them also did not have masks even though it is an offence per a presidential Executive Instrument.
Cases in the Greater Accra region have passed the 10,000 mark with the Ashanti region in a distant second with over 3,600 cases, the oil-rich Western Region completes the top three regions with over 1,550 cases as of today.
By Abdur Rahman Alfa Shaban
Reference: https://www.africanews.com/2020/07/08/ghana-coronavirus-operational-guidelines-for-churches-mosques-issued/
