March salaries of government workers are expected to be paid as scheduled as the Controller and Accountant General’s Department (CAGD) debunks reports that one of its staff has been quarantined over a suspected case of coronavirus.
A blog post widely circulated on social media on Tuesday claimed a staff who returned to Ghana from Italy had been quarantined as part of precautionary measures instituted by the government to prevent the spread of the deadly virus.
It suggested payment of salaries of public sector workers for March was going to be delayed because management of CAGD was contemplating quarantining all workers over the purported suspected case.
But the CAGD has issued a statement to deny such reports, stating “no such incident has occurred at the Head Office and all CAGD Regional Offices.”
“Management wishes to state that no such incident has occurred at the Head Office and all CAGD Regional Offices and that the general public should disregard this information,” the statement.
Acting Controller and Accountant General, Mr Kwasi Kwaning-Bosompem who signed the statement indicated that the CAGD has made adequate preparations for the payment of March salaries and assured that Government workers will receive their salaries on the scheduled pay date.
“To the creators of such falsehoods, we offer a simple message: STOP. Sharing inaccurate information and attempting to imbue it with authority by misappropriating the names of those in a position of trust is dangerous and wrong,” the statement cautioned.
The covid-19 pandemic which originated in China late last year has infected more than 182,400 people and killed over 7,100 globally.
Ghana has since March 12 confirmed seven cases of the virus with no fatalities. All cases were imported into the country.
Health officials say all the seven patients who have since been quarantined, are in stable condition.
Contact tracing are currently ongoing and officials say they have so far traced a total 350 people as having had contact with six of the patients.
Government has announced what some believe to be bold measures, including travel restrictions and closure of all schools in the country as well as a ban of social gatherings to stem the spread of the virus.
Businesses and other workplaces however continue to operate, but have been directed to observe prescribed social distancing between patrons and staff.
Establishments, such as supermarkets, shopping malls, restaurants, night clubs, hotels and drinking spots, have also been advised by government to observe enhanced hygiene procedures by providing, amongst others, hand sanitizers, running water and soap for washing of hands.
By 3news.com|Ghana