Akufo-Addo temporarily bans foreign travels for appointees over coronavirus fears
President Nana Addo Danquah Akufo-Addo has temporarily suspended all foreign travels for government officials over fears of the coronavirus.
This is part of government efforts to prevent the spread of the deadly disease in Ghana.
According to a circular issued by the Chief of Staff at the Office of the President, Akosua Frema Osei-Opare, and addressed to all government officials, only essential and critical foreign travels would be considered and, thereafter, approved.
“As part of measures to prevent the outbreak of the coronavirus (COVID-19) in Ghana, His Excellency the President of the Republic has directed that all foreign travels by public officials/officers should be temporarily suspended.
“Only critical travels will be considered. The directive, together with other measures being put in place by Government, is intended to protect the general public from contracting the virus. Please take note and ensure compliance,” the circular said.
The notice comes barely two weeks after the President returned from visits to two European countries hit by the virus — Norway and the United Kingdom.
His visit to these countries sparked concern among a section of the public who believed the President’s time of visit was inappropriate.
Members of the opposition National Democratic Congress forcefully argued for the President to be quarantined, as he could have carried the virus from the affected countries into Ghana. Ghana remains coronavirus free after 46 tests of suspected cases in the country turned negative after tests.
The Minority Member of Parliament, Ras Mubarak, was among those who called for the President to be quarantined on his return from his visit.
This concern was, however, shot down by the Ghana Health Service, which said the move would have been unnecessary.
Ghana has been on high alert after three of its neighbouring countries recorded positive cases of the disease, the latest being Burkina Faso.
In an attempt to ensure Ghana does not record any case of coronavirus, President Akufo-Addo said during the 63rd Independence day celebration that non-essential travels to Ghana were being strongly discouraged from high-risk countries to prevent a spread of the disease.