The President of Ghana, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, has lifted restrictions imposed on the movement of persons within some parts of Ghana such as Greater Accra, Tema, Kasoa and Greater Kumasi. Despite Ghana’s Coronavirus cases increasing to 1,042.
The President announced the new decision during his 7th live televised address to the nation on Sunday, April 19, 2020. However, four major cities such as Accra, Tema, Kumasi and Kasoa are still under a three-week lockdown.
According to reports, this decision will give the government the opportunity to try to contain the spread of the virus, scale-up effectively in the coming weeks.
The lifting of the restrictions comes as a reprieve to the many whose livelihoods may have been hit hard following the imposition, access to some major sectors remains restricted.
The President stated in his last address that, the initial two-week restrictions imposed on these areas saw a further seven days extension as the nation waited for test results from some 14,000 samples taken.
Despite the lifting of the lockdown, Ghana’s borders will remain closed. The ban on social gatherings of not more than 25 persons is also still in place.
According to the President, the decision was influenced by several factors including Ghana’s ability to undertake aggressive contact tracing, an enhanced capacity to test, expansion of the number of treatment and isolation centres as well as the impact of the virus on the poor and vulnerable in the affected areas.
Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo observed that “lifting these restrictions does not mean we are letting our guard down.” He also demands corporation and adherence to the new measures by Ghanaians.
News source: ghanaweb.com
Photo credit/Twitter/ Nana Akufo-Addo
