Two MPs Get COVID-19 …But speaker denies Report

Media reports suggest that two members of Ghana Parliament and 13 staff of the lawmaking chamber have tested positive for COVID-19 after results of voluntary testing requested by the Speaker trickled in.

It is unclear the identities of the affected MPs.

Following the development, the Speaker has ordered for mandatory testing of all staff and members of Parliament. The move is to ensure effective contact tracing since MPs interact among themselves often.

The Speaker has however assured the results of the testing will be highly protected.

Commenting on the reports, Dr. Prince Pambo, Medical Director for parliament on Covid-19 testing said: “I have no idea about that and I don’t even think it is news if any MP has the virus, there are nearly 7000 Ghanaians who have contracted it”.

Meanwhile, Ghana’s COVD-19 case count has shot up to 6,964.

This was announced by the Director-General of the Ghana Health Service, Dr. Patrick Kuma-Aboagye on Tuesday, May 26, 2020.

2,097 of persons who got infected with the virus have also recovered while the date toll still stands at 32.

Meanwhile, Speaker of Parliament Prof. Mike Ocquaye has denied reports that some members of the House and 13 staff have tested positive for COVID-19.

It comes after the viral report that two lawmakers have tested positive for the virus after they subjected themselves to voluntary testing requested by the Speaker of the House.

In a statement, the lawmaking House said the reports are false and must be disregarded.

“The attention of Parliament has been drawn to reports by Starrfmonline that two Members and thirteen Staff of Parliament have tested positive for COVID 19 after the mandatory testing exercise undertaken by Parliament last week.

“Parliament would like to state categorically that the results of the tests are not yet known and so the report by Starrfmonline is not true. Parliament would, therefore, like to urge Starrfmonline to withdraw the said report and update its audience with the relevant information to the effect that the results from the tests are unknown to Parliament.

“The confidentiality protocol is that those who test positive will be called directly by the testing team. Officially Parliament is unaware of any such call and therefore there hasn’t been any official figures giving by the National COVID-19 response team,” the statement said.