Tag: coronavirus in Ghana

Director-General of the Ghana Education Service Professor Kwasi Opoku-Amankwa has indicated that school facilities can be used for activities aimed at containing the COVID-19 pandemic except that requests for such use of the facilities should be addressed to him for further appropriate action liaising with the National COVID-19 Coordinating Team.

“Management of GES has no objection to the use of school facilities for the COVID-19 activities. Management however directs that all such requests should be routed to through the Director General, who will then liaise with the National COVID-19 Coordinating Team,” he stated in a letter sighted by MyNewsGh.com

His directive follows many requests from various Health and Security Teams for the use of such facilities as the country battles with the COVID-19 pandemic.

In a letter signed by Prof Opoku-Amankwa and addressed to all regional directors of education, all regional and district directors of education have been tasked to engage with their Health and Security Teams working on the COVID-19 fight so that school facilities can be put to proper use with regard to observing proper health practices.

All public (as well as private) schools have been closed in a bid to contain the COVID-19 pandemic that is fast spreading in the country.

The country has so far recorded some 214 cases in six regions of the country.

President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo will today April 5, 2020, give an account of the progress of the partial lockdown of Accra and Kumasi.

This was disclosed by the Information Minister Kojo Oppong Nkrumah.

The address is expected to be made at 6:00pm.

The President according to Oppong Nkrumah will account to the country for what has been done so far these past 7 days of the partial lockdown.

He added that the President will give an indication of the kind of report that will be given to the public.

The President today extended the closure of Ghana’s borders by 2 weeks.

He said this has become necessary as it ensures that Ghana does not import more cases.

So far Ghana has recorded 214 cases with 5 deaths so far.

A two weeks partial lockdown of Accra and Kumasi is in effect.

Source: primenewsghana.com

Dr. Titus Beyou, Deputy General Secretary and Member of Infectious Diseases Committee of the Ghana Medical Association says he is not surprised by the daily rise in COVID-19 cases in Ghana.

He disclosed that the rise in cases is due to the fact that more tests are being conducted daily.

He said we could have more numbers but that should not cause any fear and panic.

” I am not surprised about the fact that the numbers keep rising, this is simple, we are doing more testing and we are getting more cases, this will soon reduce”, he stated.

He advised that many should observe all safety measures and adhere to the lockdown directives.

Ghana has recorded 205 cases so far with 5 deaths.

There has also been some good news as some 30 people have been discharged after showing massive signs of improvement.

Meanwhile, the Minister for Information Kojo Oppong Nkrumah announced today that President Akufo-Addo has extended the closure of Ghana’s borders by 2 weeks.

The 14-day partial lockdown of Accra and Kumasi is still in effect.

Source: primenewsghana.com

Former President John Mahama has donated PPEs and gumboots amounting to GHC300,000 to support the fight against the deadly Covid-19 in Ghana.

The items included 500 PPEs and 500 gumboots.

The former President in a live Facebook address Saturday said he intends adding on some more in the coming days because of the threat from the Accidents and Emergency ward nurses at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital.

Mr. Mahama also noted he was pleased with the investment his government made in health infrastructure across the country.

“It is with great humility that I note the massive investment made in the health sector during my tenure as President,” he said.

The donation comes as health professionals at the Accidents and Emergency Centre of the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital say they will not continue working until everyone in the department is tested for Covid-19.

According to the nurses, all staff at the emergency unit are living in fear after their management hid information about a covid-19 patient from them.

“It is sad to inform our heads of department that it has created fear and panic among we the nurses who are always close to the patients. We write with deep pain and regret as such information has been kept from us and consequently putting us at risk.

“As we write this letter, a substantial number of nurses at the centre are not in their right state of mind,” the nurses in a statement.

They are also demanding for PPEs to be provided to them before they return to work.

Source: starrfm.com.gh

Ninety (90) Foreign Nationals who entered the country illegally have been arrested at Kenyasi Abirem in the Ashanti Region.

The group, comprising of 22 females and 68 males are currently being kept in isolation at the Atonsu Agogo Hospital.

They will be screened and investigated as well, according to officials.

Restrictions on Movement

Some parts of the country are under lockdown following the implementation of the Executive Order on the restrictions on movement in Greater Accra and Greater Kumasi, and Kasoa.

Following the passage of the Imposition of Restriction Bill 2020 in March, President Akufo-Addo announced a partial lockdown last week.

The two-week restriction on movement within the Kasoa township, Greater Accra Region and Greater Kumasi and some municipalities in the Ashanti Region, effective 1 am on Monday, 30 March 2020, is part of measures to prevent further spread of the deadly Coronavirus.

Ghana’s COVID-19 Case Count

The Ghana Health Service (GHS) as of 3rd April 2020, Ghana has recorded a total of 205 cases of COVID-19 with five (5) deaths. Currently, the number of regions reporting cases are as follows: Greater Accra, Ashanti, Northern, Upper West Eastern, and Upper East Region. The Greater Accra Region has most cases (183) followed by the Northern Region (10), Ashanti Region (9), Upper West Region (1), Eastern Region (1) and Upper East Region (1).

Lockdown Exemptions

Essential service providers and some other business enterprises are however exempted from the lockdown.

But some are deliberately flouting the lockdown directive and have been seen going about their duties as in normal times.

Arrest of Foreign Nationals

HelloFM and PeaceFM’s Senior Correspondent in the Ashanti Region, Sampson K. Nyamekye reports that the operation was led by Staff Sergeant Asamoah Isaac and other Military personnel from the headquarters of the Central Command of the Ghana Armed Forces attached to Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly for the lockdown exercise.

Source: peacefmonline.com

The Ghana Medical Association has advised doctors across the country to regard every patient as a potential Coronavirus case and take the necessary precautions when attending to them.

In a statement to its members, the Association also urged managers of the various health institutions in the country to ensure the availability of Personal Protective Equipment at all points of first patient contact.

“All clinicians are to maintain a high index of suspicion for Covid-19 in any/all patent encounters. It is safer to assume any patent being seen at these places is a potential Covid-19 case until proven otherwise,” the statement issued on Friday, 3rd April 2020 reads.

It added that “in very high-risk hospitals such as the Teaching Hospitals and the Greater Accra Regional Hospital (GARH) there is the need to review the protocols for PPE use in the emergency units.”

The GMA further called for an improvement in communication between health workers within and between health facilities as that will help control the spread of the pandemic

Read the full statement below

Source: www.ghanaweb.com1>

The Christ Apostolic Church International as a way of supporting the government’s efforts in the fight against Coronavirus has donated an amount of GHC 100,000 to the COVID-19 Trust Fund.

A delegation from the church led by Apostle Samuel Amponsah-Frimpong, General Secretary presented the cheque to the receivers of the trust fund.

Before the donation on 3rd April 2020, the Chairman of the church Apostle George Yeboah declared three (3) days fasting and prayers for Ghana against the novel Coronavirus, also known as Coronavirus.

Apostle George Yeboah believes in the following scriptures and statements in the word of God, for which reason he has declared the three days prayer and fasting and called on all members to partake in order for God to deliver Ghana from this pestilence:

“And said, If thou wilt diligently hearken to the voice of the LORD thy God, and wilt do that which is right in his sight, and wilt give ear to his commandments, and keep all his statutes, I will put none of these diseases upon thee, which I have brought upon the Egyptians: for I am the LORD that healeth thee.” Exodus 15:26 (KJV)

“Is there no balm in Gilead; is there no physician there? Why then is not the health of the daughter of my people recovered?” Jeremiah 8:22 (KJV)
“again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching anything that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven.” Matt.18:19 (KJV)

“Assuredly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you lose on earth will be lost in heaven.” Matt. 18:18 (NKJV) etc.

It must be recalled that before the government officially introduced the restriction of mass gathering, the Church organised a massive prayer meeting at the Black Star Square to pray for the nation.

Present at the occasion were Apostle Samuel Amponsah-Frimpong (General Secretary), Apostle Samuel Addai-Kusi (Director of Missions), Apostle Joseph Kweku Arhin (Director of Christian Education), Elder Robert Ansu – Yeboah (Director of Finance), Elder Emmanuel Abankwah (General Elder).

Christ Apostolic Church Int. is a Pentecostal church that is known to believe in divine healing. In the early days of the church, church members were barred from visiting the hospital to seek medical care whenever they fell sick since they believed God would heal them divinely. In view of this, the church was given the name “Kyiri bentua.”

History has it that, one Mr Daniel Osei received divine healing from a deadly pestilence in 1921 at Asamankese through a prayer meeting of Apostle Anim. Additionally it is on record that one Apostle Daniel Owiredu of the C.A.C. raised back to life a half-dead prince at the Manhyia palace when he was shot by someone. This miracle moved the then Ashanti king to donate a big plot of land to CACI at Bantama, Kumasi. These were but few examples of divine healings which members experienced in the early stages of the church.

The Church of Pentecost (CoP) in Greater Accra has donated some personal protective equipment (PPEs) to the Ghana Prisons Service to curb the spread of the deadly Coronavirus in the prison facilities in Ghana.

The donation, which was made on Friday, April 3, 2020, at a short presentation ceremony in Accra, include 5 Infrared thermometers, 32 Veronica buckets with a table stand and washbasins, 16 boxes of Carbolic soaps, 30 boxes of tissues and 2 boxes of hand sanitisers.

The rest are 22 boxes of disposable gloves, 300 pieces of face masks, 500 bottles of Dettol, 10 gumboots and 20 sets personal protective equipment (PPEs) consisting of coveralls, nose masks, N95 Respirators, face shields, goggles, aprons, examination gloves, and heavy-duty gloves.

The items were received on behalf of the Prisons Service by the Deputy Director of Prisons, Mrs Patience Baffoe-Bonnie, who doubles as the Director of Health for the Prison Service.

In his remarks, the Deputy Health Minister, Hon. Alexander K. Abban, expressed his gratitude to the church for their support to the prisons who, according to him, are most vulnerable in times like this. “As a result of the COVID-19, we see ourselves to be facing some form of psychological captivity.

The question we must ask is, what about those who are already dealing with physical captivity and now have to contend with psychological captivity?” he quizzed.

In a related development, CoP-Greater Accra has also donated medical supplies to the Ministry of Health, Pentecost Hospital at Madina, La Clinic and Raphal Medical Centre at Tema, in support of the fight against COVID-19.

It will be recalled that the General Headquarters of the church on Tuesday, March 24, 2020, donated PPEs to the Ministry of Health and released 12 vans to the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) for nationwide public education.

Among other donations by the church, the CoP-Ashanti Region (comprising 11 administrative areas) and the Ho Area have also made separate donations to the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital and the Ho Teaching Hospital respectively in support of the fight against COVID-19.

Source: classfmonline.com

A Ghanaian man has gone viral after inventing a solar-powered hand sensitive barrel to help curtail the spread of the novel Coronavirus (COVID-19).

The unique invention is to encourage the constant washing of hands in a hygienic manner in the wake of the pandemic.

The barrel has an in-built sensor which makes sure that once your hand is under the tap, soapy water automatically drops.

The system then allows for a 15-second gap before the water also starts flowing for the person to wash his or her hands into the barrel.

Demonstrating how it works, the inventor said the whole system is powered by solar panels and one does not need to touch the tap before being able to wash his or her hands.

Ghana has now recorded 204 Coronavirus cases as of today, Friday, April 3, 2020.

Watch the demonstration of how the man invents solar-powered hand sensitive barrel works:

GHANA 🇬🇭🇬🇭🇬🇭🇬🇭🇬🇭🇬🇭🇬🇭🇬🇭 pic.twitter.com/wrgPF9TyLk

— Godfred Nsafoah (@OneKeys) April 3, 2020

Source: Pulse.com.gh

A civil servant and resident in Akyem Oda, Mr Ibrahim Ismaela, has urged individuals who have a little more to spare to support the vulnerable within their communities during this lockdown period.

Mr Ismaela who made this remark after donating some items to the Birim Municipal Assembly for onwards distribution to frontline health workers said the donation was his personal contribution towards the fight against the Coronavirus (COVID-19).

At a brief ceremony at Akyem Oda, Mr Ismaela handed over the items which included 10 Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs), Theatre Aprons and 100 Veronica Buckets to the Birim Central Municipal Chief Executive (MCE), Ms Victoria Adu to be distributed to doctors, nurses and security officers within the municipality.

“It is my hope that those of us whom God has bestowed some wealth would support our various communities, especially the vulnerable. That I believe is statesmanship,” he said.

“My prayer is that God in His wisdom will cleanse and heal our land of this pandemic,” he added.

The MCE who received the items expressed her appreciation for the gesture and commended Mr Ismaela for contributing his quota to help support the fight against the COVID-19.

She also seized the opportunity to urge citizens to abide by the measures put in place by the government.

Source: starrfm.com.gh

A total of 6,000 people who came into contact with coronavirus patients in Accra and Kumasi have been traced and their samples taken for testing.

These contacts were traced by a team of about 300 people who have been trained to undertake the exercise in the affected areas.

At news briefing in Accra today [Friday, April 3, 2020], the Director General of the Ghana Health Service (GHS), Dr Patrick Aboagye, said a total of 538 people who were also under mandatory quarantine had been tested.

He explained that 49 out of the 204 cases the country had recorded had been discharged and were under homecare treatment.

Ghana has so far recorded five deaths and 204 cases of the coronavirus as of Thursday, April 2, 2020.

All the five dead victims of the disease had underlying chronic medical conditions prior to COVID-19 infection.

Dr Aboagye also said the service (GHS) will today [Friday, April 3, 2020] begin a training programme for some health personnel on how to use the mini ventilators in the recently distributed ambulances across the country.

He said Ghana so far has a total of 200 ventilators in the Intensive Care Units of both public and private hospitals.

Touching on Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs), Dr Aboagye called on the heads of the various public health facilities to ensure optimum use of the PPEs.

Source: .graphic.com.gh

Head of the Local Government Service, Dr. Nana Ato Arthur has reiterated that, critical staff of the service are being asked to rotate on weekly basis in order to ensure that they can adhere to social distancing as announced by President Nana Addo-Danquah Akufo-Addo.

He said this in an interview with Benjamin Tetteh Nartey on GBC Radio Central, Central Morning Show(CMS) today Wednesday, 1st April, 2020.

He explained that, the rotational principle works in a situation where there are about 5 or more people in an office, 2 of the staff should come to work for three days in a week while the remaining colleagues come for two days and then reverse the trend the following week. He said all these are being done to ensure social distancing and to protect the staff against coronavirus.

He further added the clogging machine has been put on hold till further notice and and his office has directed that, Veronica buckets with water, soap and hand sanitizers must be provided for both staff and any other person who comes to various assemblies to do business.

He continued by explaining further that, the rationale behind why all Regional, Metropolitan, Municipal and District coordinating directors must be at post in Lockdown areas was to help the executive officers who would be at post to work for government. He added that even situations where these officers cannot be at the office, they must make themselves available whenever they are called upon or needed at the office.

When he was asked that, was he aware that his kit and kin from Elmina normally mass up at the beaches to buy fish, he bemoaned that practice and cautioned that “no one is saying they shouldn’t do their fish business but must try hard to observe social distancing”.

Dr. Nana Ato Arthur ended his conversation by admonishing Ghanaians to strictly adhere to all the protocols as given by government in order to stay safe

He concluded his interview by saying that all of us should be very careful and stay safe because “covid-19 is no respecter of person and that in some countries prominent citizens has been infected with the virus”.

Source: D. C. Kwame Kwakye

The Telecommunications Chamber is urging Ghanaians to be guided by the way they use mobile internet data as they stay home in compliance to lockdown directives due to the COVID-19 outbreak.

Among other specific appeals, the Chamber said citizens must avoid unnecessary video calls and also limit the amount of data they use within digital rush hours such as 9am and 11am as well as 7pm and 11pm.

In a 10-point guidance document, the Chamber made suggestions for the adherence to what it calls that “ten commandments” for internet or data use within the COVID-19 period.

It indicated that the suggestions are to enable telcos to meet the demands of professional office teams and people undertaking distance learning while they at home.

“Avoid the use of online entertainment services during digital traffic rush-hours ( 9am-11am and 7pm -11pm), to allow telecommunications networks to meet the most demanding needs of communication applications, professional office teamwork and distance learning, which are crucial to a large number of Ghanaian citizens and businesses and critical to the functioning of the entire economy. If you are using service like Netflix, YouTube reduce the quality of the videos from high to standard definition to conserve bandwidth,” the Chamber noted.

Read the full statement below:

MTN Data usage up by nearly 20%

The outbreak of COVID-19 in Ghana has disrupted the operations of many companies with most staff now working from home.

The development, according to mobile telecom giant MTN has led to about 20% increase in data usage on its network.

While the company said it has room to accommodate the growth, it hinted that it may not be able to continue to do so if the growth is exponential.

The Telecommunications Chamber is urging Ghanaians to be guided by the way they use mobile internet data as they stay home in compliance to lockdown directives due to the COVID-19 outbreak.

Among other specific appeals, the Chamber said citizens must avoid unnecessary video calls and also limit the amount of data they use within digital rush hours such as 9am and 11am as well as 7pm and 11pm.

In a 10-point guidance document, the Chamber made suggestions for the adherence to what it calls that “ten commandments” for internet or data use within the COVID-19 period.

It indicated that the suggestions are to enable telcos to meet the demands of professional office teams and people undertaking distance learning while they at home.

“Avoid the use of online entertainment services during digital traffic rush-hours ( 9am-11am and 7pm -11pm), to allow telecommunications networks to meet the most demanding needs of communication applications, professional office teamwork and distance learning, which are crucial to a large number of Ghanaian citizens and businesses and critical to the functioning of the entire economy. If you are using service like Netflix, YouTube reduce the quality of the videos from high to standard definition to conserve bandwidth,” the Chamber noted.

Read the full statement below:

MTN Data usage up by nearly 20%

The outbreak of COVID-19 in Ghana has disrupted the operations of many companies with most staff now working from home.

The development, according to mobile telecom giant MTN has led to about 20% increase in data usage on its network.

While the company said it has room to accommodate the growth, it hinted that it may not be able to continue to do so if the growth is exponential.

Source: citinewsroom 

The Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) is calling on all landlords and property owners to “immediately” furnish it with information on tenants who travelled into Ghana from Tuesday, March 3 to Monday, March 23.

“This is to enable the GIS effectively and efficiently identify such individuals through contact tracing for the Ghana Health Service to assess and manage them.”

A statement issued by the Head of Public Affairs of the Service, Superintendent Michael Amoako-Atta, said failure to adhere to this will attract severe sanctions.

The sanctions will be in accordance with the laws of Ghana.

Ghana has scaled up testing of citizens in an effort to stem the spread of coronavirus.

Enhanced testing began by the Ghana Health Service on Monday will see citizens who returned to Ghana from Sunday, March 15 tested.

But the Ghana Immigration Service says “it will continue to take initiatives aimed at enforcing directives by relevant authorities to combat the deadly virus”.

The latest move covers Ghanaians and non-Ghanaians.

Source: 3news.com

Unemployed graduate nurses have asked the Ministry of Health to liaise with the Finance Ministry to ensure that their financial clearance is released to enable them to be employed.

The nurses, in a statement, said the struggle for their employment with the Ministry of Health after completion of school in 2017 has been back and forth.

The leaders of the Unemployed Graduate Nurses Association were arrested and almost processed for court, the statement said, because “we chose nursing and midwifery and don’t wish to stay at home while our skills rot when the nation needs us.”

“We would like to, as a matter of urgency, call on the Ministry of Health, in collaboration with the Ministry of Finance, to: Officially release the financial clearance and open the portal with immediate effect, for the 2017 diploma and degree group of nurses and midwives, as promised in a recent engagement with Dr Kwesi Asabire, Director HR-MoH and Dr Barnabas Yeboah, Director of Nursing and Midwifery, MoH.

“We also give the MoH/MoF a 14-working day ultimatum to release the financial clearance of the 2017 NAC/NAP group.”

Read the full statement below:

GRADUATE UNEMPLOYED NURSES AND MIDWIVES ASSOCIATION 2/04/2020

TO ALL MEDIA HOUSES.

A PRESS STATEMENT FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

The leadership of the aforementioned group would like to draw the attention of the general public and all our sympathisers to the persistent deceit we have suffered and continue to suffer at the hands of the current government.

We can boldly say that after the 2017 group of Nurses and Midwives were denied trainee allowance during their course of training, the then presidential candidate of the New Patriotic Party and now President, His Excellency Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo won the 2016 elections on the back of the promise of immediate employment for the 2017 batch of Nurses and Midwives but has so far failed woefully on that promise.

The struggle for employment with the Ministry of Health after completion of school in 2017 has been back and forth, and not very long ago, leaders of this association were arrested and almost processed for court; our crime, we chose Nursing and Midwifery and don’t wish to stay at home while our skills rot when the nation needs us.

It may surprise you to know that till date, we are still sitting at home and our juniors who completed and passed their Licensure Examination in 2018 and beyond, have joined the queue in unemployment.

In an attempt to calm the pressure after we announced dates for nationwide demonstrations, the Ministry of Health promised on the 23rd of January 2020 in a meeting led by Dr Kwesi Asabire Director HR, MoH, The Human Resource Manager of Ghana Health Service and a Representative from the Presidency to provide Financial Clearance for all Unemployed Nurses and Midwives who are due for employment before 31st March, 2020 but the said date has elapsed and that promise is yet to see the light of the day despite our full cooperation, which resulted in the decision to suspend our nationwide demonstration.

Leadership appreciates the efforts put up so far by the Human Resource Department of the Ministry of Health in the bid to secure our Financial Clearance but would like to register our displeasure at how woefully they have failed in fulfilling their promise.

We would like to as a matter of urgency call on the Ministry of Health in collaboration with the Ministry of Finance to:

1. Officially release the Financial Clearance and open the portal with immediate effect, for the 2017 Diploma and Degree group of Nurses and Midwives as promised in a recent engagement with Dr Kwesi Asabire, Director HR-MoH and Dr Barnabas Yeboah, Director of Nursing and Midwifery, MoH.

2. We also give the MoH/MoF a 14-working day ultimatum to release the financial clearance of the 2017 NAC/NAP group.

3. In addition, a 14-working day ultimatum to release Financial Clearance for the 2017 DIPLOMA/ NAC&NAP REFERRED GROUP and the 2018 batch of Unemployed Nurses and Midwives.

4. Duly execute the order of His Excellency, the President to increase the Health staff in the fight against the Covid-19 pandemic.

We would like to also thank the National Executive Council of the Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association (GRNMA), especially Madam Perpetual Ofori-Ampofo for her continuous engagement with the Ministry of Health to get her junior colleagues permanent employment, even though we are not satisfied with the level of work done.

We also as a matter of urgency call on the GRNMA to request:

1. For their continuous support in the fight for our Financial Clearance and subsequent Posting.

2. That they sympathise with their junior colleagues by laying down their tools to register their displeasure over Government’s inability to fulfill its obligation (the 31/03/2020 promise).

It is very obvious how important health professionals are to the country especially during the outbreak of COVID-19 and we as a group made up of thousands of unemployed Nurses and Midwives have been ever ready to serve our mother Ghana in these trying times and beyond.

We as an association shall advice ourselves and come out in our numbers to register our displeasure, should Government fail to respond to the above concerns.

In the meantime, we humbly call on all our members to remain calm and resolute as we continue to engage the relevant authorities through dialogue and a philosophy of non-violence.

Thank you.

Source: classfmonline.com