COVID-19: 19 bodies exempted from restrictions of movement
Accra, March 28, GNA – Nineteen individuals and institutions are exempted from the restrictions of movement, effective Monday, March 30, 2020 at the 0100 hours as directed by President Nana Akufo-Addo, to help curb the spread of COVID-19.
They are members of the Executive, Legislature and Judiciary; companies into production, distribution and marketing of food, beverages, pharmaceuticals, medicine, paper and plastic packages; environmental and sanitation activities; staff of VALCO and road and railway construction workers.
Others are the mining workers; fisher folk; members of the security agencies assigned lawful duties; staff of electricity, water, telecommunications, e-commerce and digital service providers; and staff of fuel stations.
The restriction is for a period of two weeks, but subject to review whenever it becomes necessary.
The decision followed identification of places like Accra, Tema, Kasoa, and Kumasi as the ‘hotspots’ of the Coronavirus infections by the Ghana Health Service.
The President on Friday around the 2300 hours said: “So, effective Monday, 30th March, some forty-eight hours from now, I have imposed, pursuant to the powers granted the President of the Republic, under the Imposition of Restrictions Act, 2020 (Act 1012), restrictions on movement of persons in the Greater Accra Metropolitan Area (GAMA, which includes Awutu Senya East), and the Greater Kumasi Metropolitan Area and contiguous districts, for a period of two (2) weeks, subject to review.
“It will give us the opportunity to try to halt the spread of the virus, and scale-up effectively contact tracing of persons who have come into contact with infected persons, test them for the virus, and, if necessary, quarantine and isolate them for treatment, should they prove to have the virus.”
President Akufo-Addo explained that the imposition meant that everyone resident in the affected areas must stay at home for the next two weeks.
“However, if you must go out, it must only be to get essential items such as food, medicine, water, undertake banking transactions, or to use public toilet facilities. But, as much as possible, stay at home.”
However, the Information Minister, Mr Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, stated afterwards on his twitter handle that the media, for the avoidance of doubt, was included in services exempted from the restrictions.
“The legal instruments that give full effect to H.E’s address will include the media,” he added.
During the restriction period, there shall be no inter-city movement of vehicles and aircrafts for private or commercial purposes for the areas of the restrictive measures, except for vehicles and aircrafts providing essential services and those carrying cargo.
Riders of motorbikes are not allowed to carry any additional person, and all intra-city passenger vehicles, such as ‘trotros’ and taxis, must reduce the number of passengers in order to observe appropriate social distancing and hygiene protocols, the President said.
In any event, he said only persons involved in the food value chain could operate in the markets during this period, while observing social distancing and enhanced hygienic protocols.
GNA
GRB
28 March 20
