President Nana Akufo-Addo
The Ghana Medical Association (GMA) has cautioned President Nana Akufo-Addo not to lift the ban on social gatherings for religious activities, schools, marriage ceremonies, funerals, among others.
GMA made the call in a statement dated May 9, 2020, and jointly signed by its president, Dr Patrick Ankobea and General Secretary, Dr Justice Yankson.
“His Excellency the President of the Republic should not lift the ban on social gatherings for religious activities, schools, marriage ceremonies, funerals etc,” it urged.
GMA further warned that “Our international borders should also remain closed for now.”
The call came as Ghana’s confirmed coronavirus cases increased from 4,012 to 4,263 and deaths moved from 18 to 22.
There is intensed lobbying by religious groups to get the ban on social gatherings lifted.
A document was recently circulated by Christian group on how to get the churches reopened.
But the GMA insists the pandemic is not a fluke.
“The Covid-19 pandemic is real, it is here with us in Ghana and is still a major health threat to all persons living in the country,” the statement says.
“Non-adherence to the Covid-19 preventive measures at this point in our collective fight against the disease has a huge potential to erode any gains made so far.
This also has the propensity to escalate further spread of the disease,” it says.
Meanwhile, GMA appealed to government to ensure prompt and continuous distribution of PPEs to all health workers at their various institutions.
By Melvin Tarlue