Covid-19: We are not Massaging Figures – Dr Nsiah Asare

Government of Ghana has dismissed reports that covid-19 figures are being “massaged” to water down the severity of the pandemic situation in the country.

Speaking at a press briefing on Covid-19 updates today [June 16 2020], the Presidential Advisor on Health, Dr Nsiah Asare said government has no control over covid-19 updates and its reportage.

He said the Ghana Health Service (GHS) and assigned health experts are responsible for updating the country on covid-19 case management.

“At the policy level, we all get the figures as you are getting this morning [from the GHS], so we don’t generate any figures at the policy level. The Presidential taskforce and for that matter, the presidency does not generate any figures”.

Government has been criticized by many for allegedly underreporting covid-19 figures to create the impression of having the pandemic situation under control.

Pressure Group, OccupyGhana for instance has said Covid-19 figures put out by the Ghana Health Service (GHS) might not be true reflection of the country’s case management.

The group said, the difference between the confirmed covid-19 cases and the death toll recorded gives reasons to be sceptical about the veracity of these updates

But, Dr Nsiah said government does not generate these figures nor influence them. He added that government only makes policies based on these updates given by the GHS.

READ ALSO:
Covid-19: Ghana’s Case Count hits 12,913 with 58 Deaths

“The presidency does not generate any figures. We see the figures as you have seen here today. We then use the figures to plan and monitor whatever is going on”

Speaking on the covid-19 updates presented, Dr Nsiah said, government can only look at each region per cases reported, to plan how to distribute resources and effectively tackle the outbreak.

He stressed that, citizens should ignore allegations of covid-19 figures being manipulated by the Akufo-Addo government.