The Minister of Information, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah says the government will announce travel restrictions on countries with confirmed cases of coronavirus (COVID-19) today, in its bid to manage the outbreak.

He said the government will state its position on the matter, after a meeting by the inter-ministerial committee on the COVID Response on Thursday, March 12.

Mr Oppong Nkrumah in a radio interview on Accra-based Peace FM further disclosed the Committee, Chaired by the president, Nana Akufo-Addo, was concluding some matters before coming out with a position.

The government has already suspended consular services provided by embassies and high commissions in countries affected by the Coronavirus.

The Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr Charles Owiredu said although consular services had been suspended, emergency services are still being provided.

“When this virus started spreading from the epicentre in China, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs through its missions decided to put in place some measures. Countries that were under total lockdown – countries such as China and Italy had restricted movements so what we said was that it was difficult for even consular officers, mission staff to even go to work and perform their jobs.

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"So we suspended Consular services and once we have suspended consular services it does not mean we have banned it or it is under total lockdown,” Mr Owiredu said in a radio interview with Accra based Citi FM on Thursday evening.

“We have created some skeletal staff in these embassies and we have also provided consular numbers that when people call, expedited services will be provided. Once you call, if you are a Ghanaian in Italy, and you want Consular services, we have provided two numbers, call any of these numbers and somebody will attend to you. If it is about a passport you want or a visa service, your passport will be posted back to you so these are some of the measures we have put in place to curtail the spread of the virus. And I think so far it is working.”

Already, The President of Ghana, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has issued a directive to temporarily suspend all foreign travels for all public officials.

In a circular issued by the Chief of Staff at the Office of the President, Hon. Akosua Frema Osei-Opare, and addressed to all sector Ministers and their deputies, Regional Ministers and their deputies, all Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Chief Executives, and all Heads of Government Agencies, the president stressed that only essential and critical foreign travels will be considered and, thereafter, approved.

“As part of measures to prevent the outbreak of the coronavirus (COVID-19) in Ghana, His Excellency the President of the Republic has directed that all foreign travels by public officials/officers should be temporarily suspended. Only critical travels will be considered.  The directive, together with other measures being put in place by Government, is intended to protect the general public from contracting the virus. Please take note and ensure compliance,” the statement said.