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 13: 24,518 cases; recoveries pass 20,000
Ghana’s case load stood at close of the weekend stood at 24,518 but worthy of note was the fact that recoveries had hit the 20,000 mark. The Ghana Health Service reported 20,187 recoveries with 139 deaths. The active cases stood at 4,192.
The recovery rate is one of the highest across the continent. Especially comparing it with countries whose case load has passed the 10,000 mark.
The back and forth surrounding the reopening of secondary schools and the ongoing voter registration exercise continues. Despite infections in a number of schools, the government insists the final year students are set to write the West African Examination Council, WAEC; papers.
The Electoral Commission, EC; in a statement over the weekend stressed its commitment to enforcing virus protocols across the country as it registers voters for a new voter roll ahead of December 2020 polls.
“Safety of applicants is foremost in the registration process and the Commission will go any length to observe the measures outline by the Ghana Health Service.
“The Commission reiterates its commitment to the safety protocols and urges applicants to collaborate with registration officials by observing safety protocols, which include wearing face masks, washing hands, checking temperature and sanitizing hands before and after the registration exercise in order to keep safe,” an EC statement of July 11 read in part.
Confirmed cases = 24,518
Active cases = 4,192
Recoveries = 20,187
Number of deaths = 139
Ghana Health Service stats valid as of July 12, 2020
EC CONCERNED ABOUT SAFTY OF APPLICANTS #LetTheCitizenKnow 3Newsgh GHOneTV Citi973 Graphicgh Joy997FM THEKojoYankson benkoku EuropeInGhana CDDGha USEmbassyGhana ImaniAfr GHANANEWSAGENCY CDDGha AfricaElection AfricaElections UNDPGhana KojoAB pic.twitter.com/M4w3ASuT0m— Electoral Commission Of Ghana (ECGhanaOfficial) July 12, 2020
July 9: 22,822 cases; 90% Education Ministry staff infected
Education Minister Mathew Opoku Prempeh on Wednesday disclosed on a local radio station that 90% of staff at the Ministry had tested positive for COVID-19.
According to him, a mass testing regime was implemented after he tested positive for th
