In the wake of COVID-19 and to prevent the further spread of this global pandemic disease in Ghana, the Ghana Medical Association (GMA) has advised the National Identification Authority (NIA) to as a matter of urgency halt all activities in the Eastern Region.
The NIA’s current activity which includes mass registration exercise, according to Dr. Frank Ankobea, the President of the Ghana Medical Association, defeats the spirit and letter of the directives issued by the President of the Republic of Ghana as part of the measures to combat the COVID-19 outbreak in the country.
“GMA observed that It was a considered view that the mass registration activities by the NIA if allowed to continue could create a fertile ground for potential spread of COVID-19”
The NIA process, Dr. Ankobea observed could be fatal as employees and communities involved stand at high-risk.
In addition, while the GMA urged the government of Ghana to ensure that residents returning from abroad comply with self-isolation guidelines in a release dated March 18, 2020, it also called on corporate Ghana not to relent on their efforts but rather assist.
“The GMA also calls on the Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) and Corporate Ghana to complement Government efforts at combating COVID-19 in the country”, the statement added.Already, Ghana has recorded nine cases of Coronavirus as at 9:00 o’clock am on Thursday, March 19, 2020.
This was revealed by President Nana Akufo-Addo during a Presidential Prayer Breakfast Meeting with Christian leaders at the Jubilee House in Accra.
“…We also learned, sadly on Wednesday, that 3 Ghanaians living abroad had lost their lives as a result. With 9 confirmed cases of infections, we might as well count ourselves lucky as one of the countries least hit by the Coronavirus,” the President stated.
On Wednesday, March 18, the cases recorded stood at seven but the Minister of Information, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah on Twitter to explained that the two extra cases were recorded overnight.
“Unfortunately we have confirmed two more cases overnight. Ghana’s case count is now at 9. Health services are still managing all suspected and confirmed cases well,” he added.
Both cases according to the government were imported.
