(4 minutes read)
· Ghana has lifted the coronavirus lockdown in its two biggest
cities- Accra and Kumasi- after two weeks of its imposition, from
midnight of 20th April
· Ghana President Nana Akufo-Addo said his decision was based
on the country’s ability to undertake aggressive contact tracing of
infected persons, the enhancement of the capacity to test, the
expansion in the numbers of treatment and isolation centers and severe
impact of the lockdown on the poor and vulnerable
· Over 100 small labs used for tuberculosis tests will now be
available for the Covid-19 tests. The country has reported only 1042
cases, nine deaths and 99 recoveries.
Ghana has lifted the coronavirus lockdown in its two biggest cities-
Accra and Kumasi- after two weeks of its imposition, from midnight of
20th April. That signals the conduct of non-essential businesses
also notwithstanding a ban on large gatherings. Schools also will
remain closed.
Ghana President Nana Akufo-Addo said his decision was based on the
country’s ability to undertake aggressive contact tracing of infected
persons, the enhancement of the capacity to test, the expansion in
the numbers of treatment and isolation centers and severe impact of
the lockdown on the poor and vulnerable.
Ghana is the first country in Africa to relax lockdown. Countries like
Zimbabwe and Nigeria have rolled over theirs.
Significantly African countries were recently criticized for
following developed countries for relaxing lockdown since they cannot
match up with the healthcare facilities the wealthier countries can
provide and their amenability to adapt to situations. There are also
suggestions coming from various quarters that what is more suited to
the region is curfews and not lockdown, since the latter will have to
be introduced nation-wide or city wide, while the former can be more
localized. More relaxed way of restricting the movement of people is
underscored since most of the countries in the continent is
characterized by daily workers and small businessmen, who eke out
their living on a daily basis, unlike in affluent and emerging
countries, where the governments can pump in resources to provide
food, shelter and basic healthcare needs.
It also has to be noted that even in the US, there have been protests
from people for lifting at least partially the lockdown conditions in
certain states to enable them to work. Importantly, President Donald
Trump has supported such protesters while some state governments and
healthcare officials are demanding a more cautious approach in view of
the risks involved in the relaxation.
Ghana has made aggressive testing of suspected cases. Till date, its
healthcare officials have traced some 86,000 contacts. Of that, 68,591
contacts were tested. Ghana ranks number one in Africa in
administering tests per million people.
Over 100 small labs used for tuberculosis tests will now be available
for the Covid-19 tests. The country has reported only 1042 cases,
nine deaths and 99 recoveries.
