Coronavirus: Akufo-Addo Temporarily Suspends Foreign Travels for all Public Officials

president says only emergent travel will be allowed

Coronavirus: Akufo-Addo Temporarily Suspends Foreign Travels for all Public Officials
President Akufo-Addo

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

The move is part of measures being taken by government to prevent the outbreak of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) in Ghana.

In Africa, a total of 97 cases have been recorded as at midnight on Monday March 10, 2020 with majority of the cases occuring  in Egypt where 55 persons have been found to be with the virus and one person dead as a result.

Algeria has recorded 17 persons whiles South Africa and Senegal has seven and four cases respectively.

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.

 

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He also highlighted other measures including strict checks at entry points and rigorous screening procedures.

The statement comes at the back of the president’s speech at the 63rd Independence Day Celebration, in Kumasi, on 6th March, 2020, President cautioning Ghanaians to stop shaking hands completely, and cover their mouths when their cough and sneeze to help prevent the spread of the Coronavirus disease.

Describing the disease as a medical crisis that is bringing in its wake deaths and economic difficulties, and is spreading fear and panic throughout the world, President Akufo-Addo revealed that in the early days of the outbreak, he constituted, on 7th February, a high-powered emergency response team to handle the crisis.

“Isolation and treatment centres have been designated for potential cases, and a quarantine centre has been set up. Five thousand (5,000) personal protective equipments for health workers have been procured and distributed to all regions and major health facilities, points of entry, teaching hospitals, treatment centres and selected health facilities,” he said.

Official figures indicate that there are two persons each in Morocco, Cameroon, Nigeria and Tunisia who have the virus.

In neighbouring Togo, one case has been reported.