Ghana has partially lifted the covid-19 lockdown in the country.
Notwithstanding, borders and schools will remain closed while public gatherings continue to be banned.
Ghana government reports say that it has so far completed 68,591 COVID19 tests. Out of the number, 1,042 (1.5%) came out positive.
The county has also commenced local production of face masks, head gears, medical gowns, gloves and scrubs.
In his 7th state address since the breakout of the disease in the country President Nana Akufo-Ado gives 7 major reasons for his decision to partially lift the lockdown.
They include:
- The country’s ability to undertake aggressive contact tracing of infected persons.
- Enhancement of its capacity to test
- Expansion in the number treatment and isolation centres
- Better understanding of the dynamics of the virus
- Ramping up of the domestic capacity to produce personal protective equipment, sanitisers and medicines
- Modest successes at containing the spread of the virus in Accra and Kumasi
- Severe impact of the lockdown on the poor and the vulnerable.
Nonetheless, some Ghanaians including renowned Lecturer, Dr John Amuasi see the measure as rather hasty citing unavailability of reliable data to back such a risky decision.
People Like Amuasi fear that the President’s decision will cause the virus infections to rapidly spread.
In the meantime, major cities like Kumasi have sprung back to life with commuters rushing to various destinations. Artisans also rush to make up for 21 days indoors without income.
Ghana’s country highlights as at 19th April:
- 86,000 contacts traced
- 68,000 have been tested
- 67,549 98.5%) returned negative
- 1,042 (1.5%) returned positive
- Drones are now used to transport test samples
In the meantime, Nigerian politician and human rights activist, Senator Shehu Sani has cautioned Nigeria about being hasty to copy Ghana’s decision.
According to him:
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