COVID-19: Shift system in schools best solution – Africa Edu Watch

Policy think tank, Africa Education watch, has suggested to the Ghana Education Service (GES) to re-introduce the shift system in the schools in order to deal with the congestions. He said this will help curb the spread of the virus in the schools.

Most schools are faced with congestions with averagely 60 to 70 students in a class.

This is against the World Health Organizations (WHO) recommendations for smaller class sizes to curb the spread of the virus.

Mr Kofi Asare Executive Director of Africa Education Watch told TV3 in an interview that the best option at the moment is the reintroduction of the shift system.

“We shouldn’t shy away from that. It looks as if the GES is not interested in running the shift system because it was a bit evasive in its own guidelines.

“The shift system cannot be overlooked especially in urban and per urban areas with class size of averagely 60 and 70. That is the next best alternative we have.”

Ghana has recorded three more coronavirus deaths as of Friday January 22, the Ghana Health Service (GHS), has said.

This pushes the number of deaths from 358 to 361.

Meanwhile, 658 new cases have been recorded, the GHS added.

This brings the total number of active cases to 2,413. The total number of confirmed cases hit 59,480.

The recoveries stand at 56,706 patients have recovered and discharged.

Source: 3news.com|Ghana

Schools will definitely record Covid-19 cases – Jinapor

A Senior Lecturer at the University of Education, Winneba (UEW), Dr Ahmed Jinapor, has noted that until a vaccine is developed against coronavirus, there can never been a 100 per cent safety against the virus.

He indicated while speaking on a stakeholder dialogue programme themed: ‘Framework for Reopening Schools’ on TV3 and moderated by Alfred Ocansey Thursday that there will definitely be cases in the schools.

Hence, he said, parents and Ghanaians in general must brace themselves up for such reports.

“We will definitely have cases in the schools,” he said, adding that “we need to brace ourselves for it.”

“Schools will definitely have to open one way or the other. We can’t have 100 per cent safety,” he said.

On the preparedness for the COVID-19 fight on the various campuses, he said most schools lack the needed resources and logistics to fight the disease.

“How many of rural schools even have water to drink and to wash? We need to provide water, good sanitary conditions.”

He also noted that the pandemic has raised the need to enhance technology on the various campuses.

“Technology is very important,” he said.

Anis Haffar, a renowned educationist, teacher, columnist and author, also noted that good personal hygienic practices is key to ending the pandemic.

He also said that the Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) have a major role to play in ensuring that school children are protected to a maximum degree.

“Hygiene is number One. Where we throw rubbish and where we defecate is very important.”

The forum was to discuss President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo’s easing of restrictions announced on Sunday.

President Akufo-Addo while announcing the easing of the restrictions said: “From Monday, 15 June 2020, the decision has been taken, after engagement with the Teacher Unions, whose co-operation I salute, to re-open schools and universities to allow for final-year junior high, senior high and university students to resume classes ahead of the conduct of their respective exit examinations”.

“Indeed, final-year university students are to report to their universities on 15th June; final-year senior high school (SHS 3) students, together with SHS 2 Gold Track students, on 22nd June; and final-year junior high school (JHS 3) students on 29th June. JHS 3 classes will comprise a maximum of thirty (30) students; SHS classes a maximum of twenty-five (25) students; and University lectures will take place with half the class sizes”.

“All final-year students of educational and training institutions, which are being managed by Ministries other than the Education Ministry, are to return to school on 15th June to complete their exit examinations.

“Again, prior to the opening of schools and universities, the Ministry of Education, and the heads of public and private educational institutions, will fumigate and disinfect their institutions.

“Each student, teacher, and non-teaching staff will be provided with re-usable face masks by the Ministry of Education. For the avoidance of doubt, all other educational facilities, private and public, for non-final-year students, will remain closed”.

By Laud Ayensu|3news.com|Ghana

COVID-19: Students in Ivory Coast return to school after easing of restrictions

With a total of 2,376 cases and dozens of new infections each day, Ivory Coast has yet to contain the virus.

But authorities are confident pupils can study together in safety after the introduction of extra hygiene measures.

In Abidjan’s Adjame neighborhood, children in backpacks queued to wash their hands under a teacher’s watchful eye before entering their school, where they sat just one to a desk with bottles of sanitising gel within reach.

“At first we were a little scared. When we saw that the protective measures were being respected, the fear went away,” said 14-year-old Samira Cisse.

Nearby countries are likely to follow closely whether the Ivory Coast’s decision to reopen schools causes a spike in infection. With millions of children still at home, aid agency Save the Children says many could face serious setbacks due to limited options for distance learning in parts of Sub-Saharan Africa.

The Ivorian education ministry told Reuters it appreciated the seriousness of its decision.

“We also have an imperative duty to ensure that the children entrusted to us can complete their education,” said ministry official Assoumou Kabran.

Reopening classrooms also means thousands of pupils and their teachers must be ferried back to boarding schools outside Abidjan, epicentre of the epidemic.

French teacher Patrick Yobouet, 38, waited with hundreds of others in a sun-baked stadium to board buses out of the city.

“We’re a bit worried as we leave because we don’t know if we have the coronavirus or not or if the children are contaminated or not,” he said.

Source: af.reuters.com

KWAMI ALORVI ASKS: REOPENING OF SCHOOLS, HOW REALLY PREPARED IS GES?

A letter from the the office of the Director General of the Ghana Education Service (GES), Prof. Kwasi Opoku Amankwa, dated Wednesday 13th May 2020 was circulated  on Social media over the weekend. The letter (Ref. GES/DG/245/20/194) seeks to solicit from the teacher unions their inputs on "strategies to adopt to ensure that we can smoothly reopen schools while ensuring the maximum security and safety of all." A deadline of Tuesday 19th May, 2020 was given to the unions to submit their inputs to the GES.

Listening to the General Secretary of GNAT Mr. Thomas Musah on JOY NEWS (TV) on Monday 18th May 2020, I gathered that the GES letter was delivered to the unions either on Thursday 14th May or Friday 15th May 2020. Considering the fact that 16th and 17th May 2020 fell on Saturday and Sunday respectively, the unions have only today Monday 18th May 2020 to think through their "strategies" and submit their proposals.

I wish the unions were given adequate time to enable them consult more broadly with their members and to also have sufficient time to think through their strategies.

Additionally I wish the engagements were broader to include other key stakeholders such as the Ghana Medical Association (GMA), the student’s leadership at all levels, Parents, the Traditional Authorities and Communities in whose areas these schools are located. But it appears GES is in its usual hurry.

From my point of view as a concerned parent with wards in school, I'm concerned about the continued stay at home of our wards. But as a teacher by profession, and knowing the conditions under which our schools operate, I am equally scared about any dream of reopening schools at this point in time when the Ghana Health Service told us it is still studying the dynamics of this Coronavirus. We are told the virus has now entered the community spread stage in our country. For me, and I believe for many parents and teachers too, the idea to even contemplate reopening schools at this community spread stage is premature. France reopened some of its schools in May and within one week, seventy students contracted the virus. The Spanish flu of 1918 was also said to have claimed 50 million lives when a lock-down was lifted without careful consideration.

So far nobody can explain why some people have severe life threatening infections while others have mild or no symptoms at all.

As a country, we have also not yet attained a quick testing regime where we can deliver quick results across the country within 24 hours when there is a suspected case and sample taken. Additionally, the temperature guns, we have learnt, have not been too helpful since many of those who have contracted the virus and spread it show no symptoms; no fever. So the temperature guns have not been able to detect the virus in those infected people. We may have many of such asymptomatic persons among students and teachers. Congregating them in schools might thus prove disastrous. Even those who get fever can bring the temperature down with paracetamol.

Thus GES may be bold, reopen our schools and be lucky to have no problems because we believe God is always a Ghanaian. However, God's favour may temporarily depart from Ghana and we could have big regrets when we reopen schools.

My candid position on possible reopening of schools therefore, is NOT NOW. Let's tread cautiously for if we rush we may crash and be crushed.

GES must be conscious of the potential danger ahead and convince students, teachers and the general public that verifiable adequate measures are put in place before contemplating reopening of schools.

From my experience in the GES, it has always been that we take major policy decisions before attempting to put in place compliance measures after public outcry. COVID-19 will not allow us the luxury to tread that path. GES must thus fulfill some stringent conditions precedent that will minimize the spread of COVID-19 among students and teachers before taking a decision to reopen schools.

The following measures are worth consideration:

A. BEEFING UP INFRASTRUCTURE

• How prepared is the GES with resources to construct more classrooms in all public schools to decongest the large class sizes? Do private school operators also have the means to expand their classroom infrastructure? Class sizes need to be reduced to a maximum of 20 to 25 if we are to reopen schools. This will ensure the appropriate social distancing protocol.
• Can GES/MoE in the shortest time possible, build more dormitories in boarding schools to decongest the sleeping rooms of the students to conform to social distancing protocols even as they go to bed?
• How prepared is the MoE/GES to provide more dining spaces to ensure social distancing as students take their meals? How early can this be done? When students are divided into more smaller groups as exists now for dining purposes, it might eat into teaching and learning periods. 
  In effect, in the SHS where overcrowding has led to a double track system, how many tracks does the Ministry envisage for schools to promote social distancing in the classrooms and dormitories? Can the, GES propose a time table for the tracks it intends to bring to the schools for public scrutiny? How can the GES enforce the ban on large gatherings such as school worships, assemblies and entertainment in the schools apart from gathering in the dining halls?
• Are resources available for extension of pipe borne water to all schools which don't have it to promote frequent hand washing?
• Furniture: For social distancing, mono desks or chairs have become imperative. How ready is MoE/GES to replace dual desks in schools that use them? Or if the dual desks must continue to be in use, how is the GES going to ensure that they are occupied by only one pupil/student to ensure the observance of social distancing protocol? How early can the GES augment the furniture status in the schools?

B. TESTING BEFORE REOPENING

• After GES has shown evidence to the teacher unions, CHASS, COHBS, CODE and Parents of providing the above infrastructure, the next stage is testing. How ready is government to let all students, teachers, and non-teaching staff of both public and private schools  undergo compulsory testing before schools are allowed to reopen? Can testing centres complete testing and release results before reopening of the schools? This will help discover any infected persons, isolate and treat them so they don't infect others.
• Retesting: All students and staff need to be retested every two weeks when schools are in session so that those who might be infected after previous tests, or who might be carrying the virus but tested negative in the first instance can be fished out, isolated and treated. Is the MoE/GES and GHS ready for this? How can students and teachers easily access the testing centers?

C. PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT, (PPE)

• Disposable face masks in the required quantities are required by each student, teacher and non-teaching staff to wear while in school. Reusable face masks must not be allowed since we cannot guarantee pupils/students can handle them hygienically to avoid infection and spread of the virus. These disposable face masks have to be collected and properly disposed of at the end of each day so that nobody attempts to reuse them.
  Government must supply these PPEs to the management of our schools- Conference of Heads of Assisted Secondary Schools (CHASS), Conference of Heads of Basic Schools (COHBS) and Conference of Directors of Education (CODE), before contemplating the reopening of schools. Is it medically safe for students and teachers to be in face mask throughout the whole day anyway? We need medical opinion on that.
• Is Government ready to supply Veronica buckets with liquid soap (with resources made available to school heads to replace or, and replenish them) to schools to be mounted at vantage points in the schools for proper hand washing?
• Hand sanitizers must be supplied to each student and each staff. These must be available to each student for exclusive use and not to be shared with any other person. Can these be supplied to schools before we think about reopening?
• Classrooms, offices, dormitories, door handles, chairs, tables, beds, mattresses, office equipment and student school bags need to be disinfected regularly, preferably every week to ensure safety. How adequately prepared are the GES and the Ghana Health Service for this?

 D. TRANSPORT

• To minimize possible transmission of the virus, special dedicated buses need to be assigned by Government to convey only students, teachers and non-teaching staff to and from school each day. No other category of persons must be allowed to mingle with the students and teachers on these buses. Government should tell Ghanaians the arrangement put in place for transporting students and staff before we think about reopening.

E. MORE STAFF RECRUITMENT

• More qualified teachers (not NABCO recruits) must be recruited to augment existing staff strength and ensure the decongestion of the classrooms and maintain a class size of 20 to 25 maximum. How early can the Ministry secure clearance from the Ministry of Finance, advertise for recruitment, recruit and deploy teachers and other staff?

Until this is done, we shouldn't think of reopening.

After ALL the above measures have been guaranteed, GES needs to tell School Managers how schools that have no fence walls (and most schools don't have) are to be protected from the public who might enter the school premises.

These measures, one may argue, appear stringent. Yes they are, but I believe they are the surest way to minimize the spread of the virus among students and teachers. Dangerous events call for stringent measures. We either take our time, get it right and do it well or regret it. As the President said, we know how to fix our economy, and by extension, our education after COVID-19. What we do not know is how to bring back to life our precious students, teachers, supporting staff and their families who might fall victim to our haphazardly  planned and ill managed reopening of schools.

May I conclude by saying that this is not the time for the Education Sector Associations to work in isolation. CHASS, CODE and COHBS must work hand in hand with the Education sector unions - GNAT,  NAGRAT, CCT - to verify the putting in place of the above stringent measures before they sit down with the GES to discuss reopening of our schools. The usual cajoling, or even bullying heads of school to reopen school with the promise of sending resources later by the GES, which promises are partially fulfilled, or never at all, must give way to collaborative engagement. Together, we can find solution to this problem and allow our schools to reopen in safety.

Let's be Citizens, Not Spectators

Coronavirus: Don’t stampede government into opening schools now – Carbonu

The President of the National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT), Angel Carbonu, is asking the general public to desist from putting pressure on government to open schools in the wake of the Coronavirus outbreak.

It has been about seven weeks since schools were shut down following a directive by President Nana Akufo-Addo to help curb the spread of the virus.

On the back of this, some teachers, and heads of institutions who are facing challenges with salary payment and keeping the students occupied during these times have begun demanding that the schools should be opened, especially after the partial lockdown on some parts of the country was lifted.

There have also been complaints from some parents who find difficulty in keeping their children occupied during these times due to financial constraints and lack of resources.

But Angel Carbonu on The Point of View on Wednesday indicated that Ghanaians would be “laughing at the wrong side of their mouths” if activities at schools should be resumed in these times.

“No one should stampede the government by putting pressure on the government to open schools. What happens in a school of 2,000 students when all sleep in dormitories and study in a classroom of over 50 students? If one student is affected with coronavirus, we know what is going to happen. We know the nature of our schools in this country. Who is going to tell the Class 1 child about social distancing? The moment you tell a Class 1 child to keep social distances, he’ll prove to you his understanding of social distancing by coming close to you. Please let us not stampede the government to open schools for there to be any calamity because when it gets to the younger generation, we will all be laughing at the wrong side of our mouths,” he said.

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

He 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.

“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,” the Deputy Minister said.

Closure of schools

At the time President Nana Akufo-Addo announced the shutting down of the schools on March 15, 2020, Ghana had recorded six cases of COVID-19.

The case count has now jumped to 1,671  with 16 deaths and 188 recoveries.

The 2020 West African Senior Secondary Certificate Examination (WASSCE) which was scheduled to begin on March 30, 2020, and end on June 1, 2020, has also been suspended until further notice.

As there is no end in sight in the fight against COVID-19 and subsequent opening of schools, managers of educational institutions have resorted to using digital platforms for teaching and learning in a bid to cover up for the lost periods, with some, soon to conduct online end of year examinations.

Source: citinewsroom.com

Positive Effect of The Coronavirus, Economist View

Rethink

• Corona has exposed the use of one sphygmomanometer (blood pressure monitor) at our health center
• Corona has allow the rich to care for the poor
• Infrastructure deficit exposed at our health centers
• It has exposed Ghana health service of the use of one mass balance (weighing scale) at health centers for all patients to use and even removing their footware before using it
• Poor emergency response due to poor settlement plans and locational direction etc.

The Weak Health System

Life expectancy in 2018 for my country Ghana averagely is 63 years by worldhealthexpectancy.com. This means our health sector and health is a challenge.

Most health centers in Ghana are lacking modern facilities and COVID-19 has exposed that. You go to hospital for check up and you will be directed to go to another facility for texting and scanning before coming back to the hospital and which all texting cannot be met.

• A nation which most hospitals do not have Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Imaging (NMRI) scan, which display the internal structures of the body details. Other modern equipment and laboratories to aid health workers to know the actual health problem one is facing and treat accordingly but due to these inadequacy, health workers have to be doing try and error with our health.
• A nation where we live like we are in the old era (the 10th century), you visit a health center and people who should know best will tell you to remove your footware and stand on the weighing scale even with a lot of skin diseases and viruses around and we see nothing wrong with it in Ghana. One Sphygmomanometer is used on every patient who visit the facility. Now Corona has exposed the bad way health is practice in Ghana.
• A nation where National Health Insurance cannot pay for painkiller drugs and even injection because government revenue is taking care of politicians health care outside the country including their transportation at a high cost. Health insurance and facilities can not cover drugs and scan for pregnant women because politicians allowances are too much that government revenue can not provide the basic  health medication for pregnant women ( like full calcium and other important medicines for growth.
• Over 70% of Ghanaian's do not take balance diet food because health Care is expensive in Ghana. Every meal should contain cereal, protein, vegetables and fruits making the square of a meal but in Ghana, most meal kills vegetables nutrients because of the heat the food goes through before been cooked and fruit is mostly missing in our meals.

Economist View:

For our Economy to be strong, we need to improve the health sector because most hours lost at work places are due to health conditions leading to low productivity and reduced Gross National Product causing low per capita income.

Capital expenditure is inadequate in the health sector, which affect the output of the health personnels and psychologically causing imbalance.

High cost of health care does not allow a lot of people to go for checkup to monitor their health situations and also the time spent at the health center increase stress and the dependency ratio. You go to the hospital at 7:00am and you will be attended to for treatment at 1:00pm, all these are hours lost affecting labour output.

High dependency ratio, unemployment, low productivity, poor development index and standard of living, reduced government revenue, low per capita income, etc.

All these are dangers to the economy and the Ghanaian economy future is in shambles if nothing is done after COVID-19

Solutions:

• If laboratories, NMRI scans and modern equipment are available  at every health center at a subsidized cost, will attract a lot of people to go for medical check-up always and improve government revenue and output.
• Modern Sphygmomanometer and mass balance should be acquired in all health centers so that, they shouldn't be touching all patients skin just like the thermometer gun, which will prevent taking back sickness from hospitals
• Government should set her priorities right in things which will develop both the human and capital resources not bullet proof jackets and new Chambers
• National Health Insurance should be empowered financially to provide basic and powerful drugs for effective treatment
• Government should stop exporting quality health personnel outside the country and keep them in the nation to help and improve productivity and output of goods

We are not in normal times and Ghana is almost in recession.

Watch out for the Security Sector next on Rethink our Economy is out of control, the future is dying, the new generation in big trouble because our thinking is out of control for national development.

#Be yourself# Ghana need us.

By: Mr. Aligah Seyram Emmanuel

Economics Tutor at Tanyigbe Senior High School

Tel: +233 54 622 5631

COVID-19: Ghana’s case count now 641 and number of recovered persons increased to 83

Eighty-three infected persons have recovered from the novel Coronavirus in Ghana, according to the Ghana Health Service (GHS).

The 83 were part of the 268 confirmed cases under routine surveillance.

Ghana’s case count of COVID-19 has also risen to 641.

The GHS confirmed this on Wednesday, April 15, 2020, via its dedicated website for providing updates on the outbreak.

“The five (5) new cases were recorded in the following locations; one from Adenta Municipality and two (2) each from Ayawaso East and Ayawaso Central Municipalities. With the exception of one (1) of the cases from Ayawaso East, all the new cases are asymptomatic. Contacts of the new cases are being listed for follow up.”

According to the GHS “as of 14th April 2020, at 23:00HRS, a total of 50,719 persons had been tested with 641 being positive for COVID-19.”

Regional breakdown

• Greater Accra Region – 514
• Ashanti Region – 53
• Eastern Region – 41
• Upper West Region – 7
• Volta Region – 9
• Upper East Region – 4
• North East Region – 1
• Northern Region – 10
• Central Region – 1
• Western Region –1

On Wednesday, April 15, 2020, the coronavirus pandemic passed 2 million confirmed infections and 130,000 deaths worldwide.

 Story by Marian Ansah

Source: https://citinewsroom.com 

COVID-19: Chiefs, Residents kick against use of School as Isolation Centre at Brafoyaw

The Chiefs and people of Brafoyaw, a community in the Central Region, have kicked against the use of Aggrey Memorial Zion Senior High School as an isolation camp for COVID-19 patients.

According to the community, using the school as a facility for COVID-19 patients will endanger the lives of the people living in the community.

There were earlier reports in the media suggesting that Health Authorities have chosen the school as an isolation centre.

There was also speculation that the Effutu Senior High School and the St. Augustine's Senior High School were earmarked as isolation centres.

“We came into the school because we had an indication that the government has intentions using the school as a place of quarantine for COVID -19 patients and Aggrey Memorial is under my jurisdiction but as Chief of the area, our fear is that the school is closer to the community and if care is not taken it might spread into our communities,” Nana Atobrah Kesse VII the Chief of Brafoyaw told Citi News.

He added that although they are not preventing the government from using the facility it would be appropriate to rather use the Cape Coast Sports Stadium or the Sewdu Park which is out of town and has better facilities.

“We are not fighting against the government for the use of the school a place of quarantine but we want to plead with the government to instead use the two main sports stadiums the Cape Coast Sports Stadium and the Sewdu Park as COVID-19 centres and these facilities are good because they have enough space to cater for the patients.”

He also expressed hope that the government will listen to their plea.

“I believe this government is a listening government and will listen to our plea I have also told the community to remain calm. We only came here to pour out our grievances and I know it will yield result,” Nana Atobrah Kesse VII said.

Source: Calvis Tetteh | citinewsroom.com | Ghana

Coronavirus: Akufo-Addo suspends weddings, funerals, church services and closes schools

The government of Ghana has suspended all public gatherings in the country with immediate effect following the recording of six confirmed Coronavirus diseases (COVID-19) in Ghana as of Saturday, March 14, 2020.

President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo made this known in a televised national address Sunday night [March 15, 2020].

He said the new directives follows an earlier meeting of Inter-Ministerial Committee on Coronavirus response which he chaired and it deliberated on the issues.

"I have decided, in the interest of public safety and protection of our population, to review the public gathering advisories earlier announced."

He said among the gatherings suspended are church services, weddings, funerals, other social gatherings.

All universities, senior high schools and basic schools - public and private schools will be closed Monday March 16, 2020 till further notice.

The Ministry of Education in collaboration with the Ministry of Communication has been tasked to roll out distance learning programmes.

However, BECE and WASSCE candidates will be allowed to attend school to prepare for their examinations, but with prescribed social distancing protocols, President Akufo-Addo said.

"You may recall that on Wednesday, 12th March 2020, when I first spoke to you directly on this matter, I announced the first raft of enhanced measures taken in response to the pandemic. At the time, there had been no reported, confirmed case of the Coronavirus in Ghana," President Akufo-Addo said.

He said since then, six confirmed cases have been announced, all of persons who recently traveled into Ghana.

He said advisories on how to manage the developments have also been announced by the Ministries of Health and Information and that public education is being intensified to ensure that citizens are well advised on preventive measures.

Summary of the Directives from President Akufo-Addo

1. All public gatherings, including conferences, workshops, funerals, political rallies, sporting events and religious activities, such as services in churches and mosques have been suspended for the next four weeks. Private burials are permitted, but with limited numbers, not exceeding 25 in attendance.
2. All Universities, senior high schools and basic schools, i.e. private and public schools will be closed Monday March 16, 2020 till further notice. The Ministry of Education in collaboration with the Ministry of Communication has been tasked to roll out distance learning programmes. However BECE and WASCE candidates will be allowed to attend school to prepare for their examinations but with the prescribed social distancing protocols.
3. The government of Ghana travel advisory issued earlier today should be observed as announced
4. Businesses and other work places can continue to operate. They should observe prescribed social distancing between patrons and staff.
5. Establishments such as supermarkets, shopping malls, restaurants, night clubs, hotels and drinking spots should observe enhanced hygiene procedures that provides hand sanitizers, running water and soap for washing of hands.
6. The Ministry of Transport should work with the transport unions in private and public transport operators to ensure enhance hygienic conditions in vehicles and terminals by providing among others hand sanitizers, running water and soap for washing of hands.
7. The Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development should coordinate with the Metropolitan and Municipal and District Assemblies measures to enhance conditions and hygiene in markets across the country.

President Akufo-Addo said additionally, as the experts conduct contact tracing, "I appeal to all to cooperate with them to ensure that persons who have come into contact with positive cases are identified and supported.

He said he has directed the Attorney General to immediately submit to Parliament an emergency Legislation in accordance with Article 21 to help enforce all the measures announced.

He said he has further directed the Minister of Health to exercise his powers under section 169 of the Public Health Act, 2012, Act 851 by the immediate issuance of an Executive Instrument to govern the relevant and called on Parliament to support the Executive in "national endeavour."

Not ordinary times

"As I said earlier, there is every need to observe prescribed social distancing and good personal hygiene to prevent community spread.

"We are determined to do whatever we can to prevent the spread of the virus and protect the population."

The President said all the measures announced will be subject to constant review and enhancement if necessary. Fellow Ghanaians, these are not ordinary times, so let us all put our shoulders to the wheel and I'm confident that together, by the grace of God we shall overcome this challenge. May God bless us all and our homeland Ghana and make us great and strong. I thank you for your attention."

Source: https://www.graphic.com.gh