Don’t Lift Ban On Public Gathering; Ghanaians Are Stubborn – GMA Tells Gov’t

The Ghana Medical Association (GMA) wants the government to stay the ban on social gatherings as the number of novel coronavirus infections continues to rise.

GMA is also urging the government to continue the closure of the country’s borders to prevent the importation of Covid-19 from foreign soil.

President Akufo-Addo on April 19, lifted restrictions imposed on the movement of persons on Greater Accra and Greater Kumasi and surrounding towns as part of efforts to control the spread of the coronavirus.

During that televised announcement, the President explained that the country’s borders remain closed while the ban on social gatherings, including religious gatherings, funerals, conferences and parties remains in force.

As Ghana enters her third week after the lockdown was reversed, a cross-section of the public has questioned the ‘data-driven’ move in the face of the increasing cases of the virus.

But in the latest communique, the Ghana Medical Association called on the government to remain resolute in staying the ban on social gatherings as they believe that “non-adherence to the Covid-19 preventive measures at this point in our collective fight against the disease has a huge potential to erode any gains made so far.”

The May 9 statement also asked that “our international borders should remain closed for now.”

Ghana on May 9, recorded 251 more cases of Covid-19 sending the total case count to 4,263, according to figures from the Ghana Health Service.

On its Covid-19 webpage, the Service also said four more people have died from the disease, taking the death toll to 22.

However, 55 more people have recovered from the disease, taking that number to 378.

The regional case counts show that Greater Accra, Central and Ashanti have recorded new cases.

From 3,436 cases as of May 8, Greater Accra which remains Ghana epicentre now has 3,641 cases, an increase of 205.

Ashanti has 42 new cases sending the count there to 252 while the Central region recorded four new cases, taking its tally to 62.

Eastern region still has 96 cases, Western North 56, Western 35, Volta 32, Upper East 26, Oti 24, Upper West 20, Northern 16, North East 2 and Bono one.

Ahafo, Bono East and Savannah have yet to record any cases.

Meanwhile, The opposition NDC’s Covid-19 Technical Team is backing the Ghana Medical Association’s call for the ban on public gatherings not to be lifted.

Re-echoing the points raised by the GMA, the Team said the prevalence and speed of the spread of Covid-19 in Ghana remains a clear and present danger.

“Any attempt to lift restrictions on all forms of public gatherings, in our view, is extremely premature and risky at this stage of the virus’ evolution in Ghana. In addition our borders should also remain closed at this time,” the  statement said.