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Ghana Enforces Mandatory Wearing of Face Masks

Ghana has made the wearing of face masks mandatory following the lifting of the three-week partial lockdown imposed on parts of the country.

In his eighth address to the nation on Sunday, April 26, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo encouraged Ghanaians to wear masks wherever they went to help contain the spread of the virus, adding that the Ministry of Health was going to come out with guidelines on the wearing of masks in the country. “Like the World Health Organization (WHO) has recently advised, I want to encourage you to wear a mask wherever you are, as it will help you not to contract the virus and keep it clean.

Following the President’s statement, the Ministry of Health has said it is mandatory for the public to wear mask when going to places where social distancing cannot be maintained.

Directive

A directive issued by the sector minister, Mr. Kwaku Agyemang-Manu said “I hereby direct the use of face masks in all public places where it may be difficult to maintain social distancing. The general public is encouraged to wear mask or face covering when going out whether sick or not or attending to a sick person. Incorrect use of face mask carries a high risk of infection.”

“The following groups or persons are required at all times to wear masks: Food vendors and sellers at markets, commercial vehicle drivers and attendants, commuters on public transport, persons in public and commercial centers, facilities and buildings including but not limited to offices, bars, workshops, restaurants, sports arenas and spas, salons, shopping malls, churches, clinics and hospitals and all other facilities accessible to the public whether privately or publicly owned”.

The directive, the minister said was in pursuant of section 169 of the Public Health Act, 2012, (Act 851).

Mr. Agyemang-Manu however indicated that where masks were not available homemade ones could be used. He stressed that homemade masks should be produced following laid down Food and Drugs Authority guidelines to ensure all masks met safety standards.

Local production

The wear-a- mask policy has opened the doors for local production of nose masks as a result of which masks made out of print fabric have flooded the markets. Leading the local production of the nose masks are five garment companies that are currently producing personal protection equipment (PPE) for the fight against the coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

They are Sleek Garments Limited; Dignity, DTRT Apparel; Cadling Fashion Limited and Alfie Designs. The five companies were benefactors of a Ghana Export-Import (GEXIM) Bank $10 million financial support to help the companies to expand their businesses; boost their production capacity and place them in a better position to employ more people.

Following that investment, the government relied on those companies to provide 3.6 million PPE during this era of COVID-19 pandemic. DTRT, for instance has increased its workforce from 1,200 workers to 2,700. The company is producing 50,000 nose masks daily, with an assurance to scale up to 200,000 masks a day.

Confirmed cases

Confirmed cases of Coronavirus in Ghana, has surged to 2,074. According to data provided by the Ghana Health Service website on Thursday, April 30, 2020, 403 new cases were recorded in the country since the last update on April 28, 2020. The death toll from the illness has risen to 17 with 212 recoveries.

The Greater Accra Region - 1,795 - has the highest number of infections among the 12 regions with confirmed cases, followed by the Ashanti Region - 99 and the Eastern Region with 21 cases.

The Savannah, Bono, Ahafo and Bono East Regions are yet to record any cases.

Source: Ghana Diaspora Recruiter