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Ghanaian colleagues, good evening.
I entered their houses on the 17thth January, to account for our COVID-19 situation, a situation that, according to the data available at that time, was not good.
To this end, I asked you, my Ghanaian compatriots, to help contain the spread of the virus by respecting the protocols that the government has established.
The hope was that, as a result, we would start to see an improvement in our case count. Two weeks after that address, the situation is even worse.
To Friday 29th In January, sixty-four (64) more people have sadly died in the last two weeks, bringing the total number of confirmed deaths to four hundred and sixteen (416). Our hospitalization rates are increasing, and the number of seriously ill people is now one hundred and seventy-two (172).
Our hospitals have been full and we have had to reactivate our isolation centers. Our average daily infection rates are now seven hundred (700), compared to two hundred (200) two weeks ago.
The total number of active cases has more than doubled, from a little over nineteen hundred (1,900) two weeks ago, to five thousand three hundred and fifty-eight (5,358) today.
When I submitted Update No. 22, thirteen (13) of the sixteen (16) regions had registered active cases; today, all sixteen (16) regions have active cases.
In fact, the Greater Accra, Central, West, Ashanti, East, Upper East, Upper West, Volta and North regions are the most affected, accounting for ninety-four percent (94%) of the total number of active cases.
Indeed, fellow Ghanaians, we have a lot of work to do in tackling the disease. Given that recent studies show that the UK and other new variants are being transmitted within the population, we must all understand that our current situation could become very serious if efforts are not made, both by the Government and by you, the citizenship, to help contain the virus.
The analysis goes on to tell us that the spread of the virus occurs mainly in confined, closed spaces with little ventilation, where people talk, sing or shout without their masks.
The imposition of restrictions on our daily routine helped reduce the prevalence of the pandemic in the country, and the government has had no choice but to reintroduce some of these restrictions to help save the situation.
I know that these measures, in the recent past, were unpleasant, but, for a period, they resulted in a favorable situation for our country. We have to get back to them.
Therefore, fellow Ghanaians, until further notice, funerals, weddings, concerts, theatrical performances and parties are prohibited. Private burials can be performed, with no more than twenty-five (25) people, with compliance with the protocols of social distancing, hygiene and use of a mask.
Beaches, nightclubs, cinemas and pubs remain closed. Our land and sea borders remain closed.
All workplaces, public and private, must employ a shift system for workers, in addition to the use of virtual platforms for business or work. Conferences and workshops can be held with all the appropriate protocols. However, I recommend using virtual platforms for such engagements.
Restaurants should offer take-out services and, where possible, avoid sit-down services. The National Sports Authority and the Ghana Football Association must ensure compliance with the twenty-five percent (25%) capacity rule in our stadiums, and spectators must respect the rule of social distancing and the wearing of masks.
To the revered leaders of our religious organizations, that is, our churches and mosques, I beg you to enforce, to the letter, the protocols related to attendance, that is, the duration of two hours, the social distancing of a subway, the use of masks, the use of disinfectants. and the presence of buckets of veronica, liquid soap and rolls of tissue paper.
I note that since our schools reopened two weeks ago, we have witnessed only a few case reports among students. I call on school authorities and teachers to enforce the guidelines provided by the Ghana Education Service, and I urge the Ghana Health Service to continue its surveillance in schools so that we can contain the reported cases.
As we intensify public education and enforcement of the protocols at public meetings, let me also point out that regulatory agencies will conduct spot checks to ensure compliance with these rules, and law enforcement will be tasked with enforcing them.
You do not have to be arrested by the police before wearing your mask, your workplace should not be closed for not complying with protocols, if there is no urgent reason to be outside, stay home.
Each of us can help contain the spread by continuing to practice social distancing measures, washing our hands with soap under running water, refraining from shaking hands, and wearing our masks every time we leave our homes. These measures must be respected by all.
I urge you, my fellow Ghanaians, to continue to pay attention to your health, improve your fitness levels, and eat our local immunity-boosting foods. If at any time you feel unwell or have the most common symptoms of COVID-19, such as fever, dry cough, tiredness, inform the nearest health center and get tested.
COVID-19 testing is free for all Ghanaians in public health institutions. If a citizen of Ghana tests positive, the cost of care in the treatment and isolation centers will be borne by the Government.
In 58th At the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government Summit, held virtually, it was agreed that the cost of COVID testing for incoming ECOWAS nationals would be set at fifty United States dollars ($ 50) at Kotoka International Airport.
The cost of the test for non-ECOWAS citizens remains one hundred and fifty ($ 150) dollars. ECOWAS citizens and travelers who test positive will bear the cost of mandatory isolation and treatment. However, citizens of Ghana who test positive upon arrival in the country will have the costs of isolation and treatment at the expense of the state.
Ghanaian colleagues, in Update 21, I indicated that Ghana is ready to purchase its first shipment of COVID vaccines within the first half of this year. Since then, a lot of work has been done to achieve this. Our goal is to vaccinate the entire population, with an initial target of twenty million people.
Through bilateral and multilateral means, we are hopeful that, by the end of June, a total of seventeen million six hundred thousand (17.6 million) doses of vaccines will have been purchased for the people of Ghana. The earliest vaccine will be in the country in March.
The Food and Drug Authority (FDA) will use its established processes to grant emergency use authorization for each vaccine in Ghana. As President of the Republic, I assure you that only vaccines that have been evaluated and declared safe for use in Ghana will be administered.
The government will continue to monitor our COVID-19 situation and will remain determined to ensure that we can return to normal daily routines. I am hopeful that if each of us fully accepts the security protocols and continues to put our faith in the Almighty, we will emerge strong from this pandemic.
My faith in God tells me this will pass too! Because the Battle is the Lords !!
May God bless us all, and our homeland Ghana, and make it great and strong.
I thank you for your attention.
