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 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 the virus weeks back and was admitted to the leading virus treatment center in the capital, Accra.
He told Peace FM’s listeners: “After my second result came out as positive, testing was conducted on all staff at the ministry and the results showed that out of every 50 persons, about 45 had contracted the virus. Most of them are asymptomatic so they are isolating at home.
“For all the 52 years of my life, I’ve never been admitted to the hospital before and it was not a pleasant experience. The disease is very real and I don’t wish it on even my foe,” he said.
The Ghana Education Service, GES, is however adamant that senior high schools will remain open and also conduct terminal examination for final year students. THis is despite advice by the medical association to the contrary.
“We’re going ahead with the WASSCE, we’ve not received any directive to hold on. We are going to conduct the exams and WAEC is preparing for that.”
“We have holding rooms in all the schools and we have trained health personnel there so when they come across any COVID-19 symptoms, the person is isolated. We have also mapped all schools to a health facility,” GES PRO told local media.
Confirmed cases = 22,822
Active cases = 5,129
Recoveries = 17,564
Number of deaths = 129
Ghana Health Service stats valid as of July 9, 2020
Ghana's COVID-19 UPDATE
Visit https://t.co/fIBe1RWjtG for the details pic.twitter.com/yr1z3opH14— Ministry of Health, Ghana (@mohgovgh) July 9, 2020
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 Cen
