ALL UNAPPROVED routes along the Ghana-Cote d’Ivoire boarder at Sampa are strictly being checked by officials of Port Health Authority of the Ghana Health Service (GHS), in collaboration with officers of Ghana Immigration Service (GIS).
It forms part of measures taken by the government to tighten security and control migration, as the coronavirus (COVID-19) disease continues to spread.
Currently, there are unapproved routes at Zezera, Kofitiakrom, Biama, Bodaa, Kaabre, Kokosua No 1 & 2, Bukoo and Kabili along the Ghana-Cote d’Ivoire boarder and at each crossing, there is heavy presence of security agents from the Ghana Army, the Bureau of National Investigations (BNI), Ghana Immigration Service and the police, as well as health officials, to check entry of persons into the country.
At Sampah, the main boarder post, port health officials screen all persons crossing in and out of Ghana by first checking their temperatures with an instrument called Thermo Flash.
Nanmang John, Head of Port Health Officials, told DAILY GUIDE that travellers whose temperatures record more than 38 degrees Celsius are detained briefly and their temperatures rechecked after 10 minutes, adding “if it’s still high then the person would have to be detained at the Infectious Disease Holding Unit for the necessary processes for symptoms detection for COVID-19 to begin.”
He explained that on a peak day like market days on Mondays, between 200 and 300 people cross the border, saying “we have only three thermometers but one is not working due to the pressure of using it to check everybody.”
However, the District Director of Health Service, Dr. Emmanuel Tevu, said the District Directorate has set up a quarantine centre at Sampa District Hospital with enough logistics and protective clothes to work on an infected person.
The Commanding Officer for Northern Command of Ghana Immigration Service, Chief Superintendent Seidu Bayanyinuh, said “we are ensuring that nobody crosses the border without going through proper immigration and health checks.”
In a related development, the President of Suma Traditional Council, Odeneho Affram Obrempong II, has banned funerals, weddings and naming ceremonies as part of measures to protect the people against the spread of the pandemic.
The Traditional Council has cancelled Akwantu Kesse Festival of the area which commenced on 6th March 2020 and was supposed to reach its climax on 4th April, adding that “the Traditional Council regrets the cancellation of the festival.”
danielyaodayee@yahoo.com
FROM Daniel Y Dayee, Sampa