A Zoomlion official disinfecting Accra MTTD
The Greater Accra Regional Police Commander, DCOP/Mr. Fred Adu Anim, last Saturday confirmed that some inmates in cells in the region had tested positive for the coronavirus disease (Covid-19).
He made the disclosure during an address to the media when disinfection gangs of Zoomlion Waste Management Company continued their ongoing countrywide disinfection and clean-up of police facilities at the Greater Accra Regional Police Command Headquarters in Accra.
The infected suspects and convicts, he said, had been transferred to the various isolation centres in the region for treatment.
Those who have tested positive have been moved from the cells for incoming suspects to occupy.
Separation Process
“We have separated them from the fresh suspects who will come into our custody. I can’t mention the number off-head but they have been taken to isolation centres,” he said, adding, “If you listened to the news carefully, you would hear that two Nigeriens who were in our custody had been discharged having tested negative. I cannot talk about the others.”
Ashaiman Cells
His disclosures came on the heels of news about nine inmates out of 50 being held at the Ashaiman District Police Headquarters testing positive for Covid-19.
Of the confirmed cases, seven are convicts while two are remand prisoners.
Nsawam Medium Prisons authorities had reportedly refused to receive the inmates during the lockdown over Covid-19 fears.
As a result of the development, the Ashaiman police decided to test inmates in the cells to ascertain their status so they could attach the results with a letter to the Ghana Prisons Service for the inmates to be admitted.
It was this process that brought out the reported cases.
The infected inmates were immediately taken to a special isolation centre within the municipality to commence treatment.
Zoomlion & Police
The exercise which included a clean-up aimed at ensuring the environment of the Greater Accra Regional Headquarters was rid of filth and as protection against Covid-19.
Police personnel and Zoomlion disinfection gang took part in the exercise. They were seen working with wheel barrows, shovels and other implements.
Others swept the street in front of the regional headquarters and the barracks, as well as the various cells.
The Regional Commander said “because the exercise was taking place in the various cells, all the inmates were moved out from their cells with the hardened criminals contained in a police moving van to prevent escape as the ordinary ones were grouped at secure places to facilitate the disinfection and fumigation exercise.”
Concurrent Move
On her part, the Chief Corporate Communications Officer, Jospong Group Of Companies, Ms. Sophia Lissah, said whereas the exercise was concurrently done in all the 14 divisional police commands in the region, the disinfection and fumigation were done at the regional headquarters and training schools.
The exercise, Ms. Lissah said, covered two cells, the Striking Force offices and charge offices, and added that the other areas would be done next week.
Unique Exercise
“This exercise is unique because aside from the officers and their families, we realized that they live together with the inmates in the same community so if one person has the disease it becomes dicey,” she said, adding “again we also realized that the police officers are amongst the frontline workers in the fight against Covid-19 and so there is the need to reach out to them.”
By Vincent Kubi & Issah Mohammed