Coronavirus: Akufo-Addo extends border closure
Even before an initial two-week closure of Ghana’s borders elapses, President Akufo-Addo has extended it by an additional two weeks as the government seeks to tighten the noose around the spread of the coronavirus.
The Minister of Information, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, tweeted the extension on Saturday.
According to him, the decision by the President to extend the closure was to ensure that the coronavirus does not spread.
The latest extension of the closure of the country’s borders will take effect Sunday midnight, April 5.
Hi Folks, President @NAkufoAddo has by a new executive instrument, EI 66, extended the closure of Ghana’s borders by another two weeks effective midnight tomorrow April 5.
— Kojo Oppong Nkrumah (@konkrumah) April 4, 2020
Mr President believes that these tough decisions are necessary to protect the lives of Ghanaians despite the inconvenience it causes to many.
— Kojo Oppong Nkrumah (@konkrumah) April 4, 2020
President Akufo-Addo in his third address to the nation on coronavirus on March 21, announced a two-week closure of the country’s borders. He added the closure did not affect goods or cargo.
Ghana has so far recorded 205 coronavirus infections with five deaths.
Some parts of the country which have been identified as hotspots for coronavirus, also known as COVID-19, have been placed under a partial lockdown to stem the spread of the virus.
These cities include Accra, Tema, Kumasi and Kasoa.