President Nana Akufo-Addo
President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has ordered the suspension of all foreign travels but critical ones for public officials.
The suspension is government’s response to the worldwide outbreak of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) which is spreading to many countries.
The suspension was ordered through the Chief of Staff, Akosua Frema Osei-Opare, and addressed to all sector ministers and their deputies, metropolitan, municipal and district chief executives, including heads of government agencies.
Only critical and essential foreign travels will be considered under the new arrangements.
“The directive, together with other measures being put in place by government, is intended to protect the general public from contracting the virus,” the statement added.
The President, as part of the measures, had earlier, during the 63rd independence anniversary in Kumasi, advised against the shaking of hands completely and also urged people to cover their mouths when they cough or sneeze to help prevent the spread of the virus.
Ghana’s Mission
Already, Ghana’s missions in countries hit by COVID-19 have suspended consular services as part of measures to protect staff and others from being infected.
Following the increasing number of coronavirus cases being recorded in parts of Europe, Ghana’s embassy in Madrid, Spain, this week issued a notice of the suspension of its consular services.
The notice read, “The embassy of the Republic of Ghana in Madrid wishes to inform the general public that owing to the increasing numbers of coronavirus infection in Spain, particularly Madrid, consular services would be suspended with effect from Wednesday, 4th March 2020 until further notice.”
It further read, “The measure is aimed at protecting the general public who gather at the embassy for consular services and the officers who attend to them from contracting the virus.”
Similarly, reports say missions in Rome, Italy; Seoul, South Korea; Tehran in Iran and Beijing in China have also shut down their consular sections in the interim as these countries battle COVID-19.
Ghana’s embassy in Berlin, German, recently cancelled a scheduled reception to commemorate the 63rd anniversary of Ghana’s independence in Berlin due to the outbreak of coronavirus in Europe’s most developed country.
Virus Update
Over 100,000 coronavirus infections have been recorded globally since December 31, 2019 when China alerted the World Health Organization (WHO) of the virus outbreak in Wuhan.
WHO in January declared the COVID-19 outbreak a global health emergency and called on countries to implement measures to prevent the disease from further spreading.
The virus has killed over 3,500 people globally as of March 6, 2020, with Africa recording its first death due to COVID-19 in Egypt.
By Charles Takyi-Boadu & Jamila Akweley Okercthiri
BY Melvin Tarlue