Coronavirus: IGP cancels lockdown preparation order

The Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mr James Oppong Boanuh, has withdrawn an order for all police to prepare for a lockdown to contain the fast-spreading coronavirus.

An internal memo to personnel sighted by theghanareport.com stated that the IGP “directs the operation order is withdrawn with immediate effect”.

It added that further instructions would be issued on the details of the order.

Earlier, a “restricted document” titled “Deployment Strategy for lockdown of Accra, Tema, Kumasi and Obuasi” had been released to various commanders to prepare all personnel for deployment.

The police service document only dated March 2020 said the law enforcement agency has “anticipated that a partial to full lockdown of some parts of the country will be executed in a bid to contain the spread of the coronavirus.”

Coronavirus: Police prepares for possible lockdown announcement

President Nana Akufo-Addo has been under pressure to impose a lockdown, which had been effective in dealing with COVID-19  by China, where the disease was first recorded.

Experts, Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) and various associations including the Ghana Medical Association (GMA) have called on the president to implement the curfew excluding only essential service providers.

The country has recorded 136 cases, three deaths and one recovery. The last four cases were community detections raising fear that person to person localised spread may have gained ground.

Mr Akufo-Addo is expected to address the country on Friday evening concerning the latest mitigation actions to be deployed by the government.