$100m Covid-19 money has landed – Ken Ofori-Atta reveals

Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta, has said the $100 million requested from international donors to Ghana fund the fight against the dreaded coronavirus pandemic has arrived.

He made this known in his Monday briefing in Parliament, on the effects of the global health crisis on Ghana’s economy.

“Mr. Speaker, contrary to the views of some sceptics that the money is not available, I wish to assure you that the money has been secured,” he said on the floor of an eerily quiet chamber.

Ghana allocates US$100 million to fight COVID-19

Ghanaian President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo earlier announced a fund of 100 million U.S. dollars for the fight against COVID-19.

Addressing the nation live on radio and television on the enhanced measures against the disease, Akufo-Addo said it was necessary to step up the country’s preparedness to fight the disease in case of an outbreak.

“This fund is to finance the expansion of infrastructure, purchase of materials and equipment, and public education,” said the president.

COVID-19 cases in Ghana hit 152

Ghana’s case count for COVID-19 has increased to 152 as of Sunday, March 29, 2020. This followed the confirmation of 11 new cases by the Ghana Health Service.

Ten (10) of the new cases were among persons who were under mandatory quarantine in Tamale under the direction of the Regional Security Committee of the Northern Region.

The 10 cases involved Guinean residents who travelled through Burkina Faso and Togo to Ghana and were picked following intelligence report.

The eleventh case was recorded in Kumasi in the Ashanti Region.

The 10 Guineans are currently asymptomatic; yet to show signs of COVID-19, but the government says it is collaborating with the relevant authorities in the West African sub-region to send them back to their home country for treatment.

The 10 Guineans who were confirmed COVID-19 positive in Ghana arrived in the country before President Nana Akufo-Addo’s directive for the closure of Ghana’s land, sea and air borders.

The Minister for Information, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah made the announcement at the press conference on Sunday where he said the Guineans will be sent back to their home country for treatment.

“The information I have is that the Ghanaian and other West African authorities are completing arrangements so that they can be repatriated to their county of origin so that treatment to take place there. So they will not be treated in this jurisdiction,” he said.