President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo says a decision on whether the current lockdown in Greater Accra and Greater Kumasi will be extended or not will be determined in the coming week.
He said so far he is satisfied with the outcome of the directive but announced that Ghana will enter a critical phase soon as results on about 15,384 tests are awaited.
He made this known in a nationwide broadcast on television Sunday night.
The 14-day lockdown was imposed by the President as per the recently passed Imposition of Restrictions Law, 2020 (Act 1012) to ensure that most Ghanaians stay home as enhanced testing of contacts of patients was carried out.
The lockdown affected Accra, Tema, Kumasi and Kasoa and it began on Monday, March 30.
“In the course of the coming week, a determination will be made as to whether or not to extend the duration of the two-week restriction of movement and implementation or otherwise of any more enhanced measures to deal with the virus,” President Akufo-Addo said.
Already, he has extended the closure of Ghana’s borders to humans by a new executive instrument, EI 66, “until further notice”.
African leaders have already been lauded for the imposition of lockdowns as the disease spreads fast in other parts of the world.
President Akufo-Addo asked for patience on the part of Ghanaians to support and adhere to the measures put in place to stem community spread of the disease.
“Let each one of us play his or her part to enhance our collective efforts at containing the spread of the virus which will enable us hasten the lifting of these restrictions and returning the nation to normalcy.”
So far, Ghana has confirmed 214 cases of the viral disease, which has killed almost 70,000 worldwide.
Five deaths have, however, been recorded in Ghana with about 49 being treated home.
By Emmanuel Kwame Amoh|3news.com|Ghana