Even Akufo-Addo Will Not Know Where The Quarantine Facility Is Situated - Health Minister

The Minister of Health, Kwaku Agyeman-Manu says his Ministry will not disclose any information on the location of the quarantine base set up to house persons who may be infected by the coronavirus outbreak.

According to him, this move will help reduce fear and panic among Ghanaians since they will not know where it is situated.

Addressing the media in Accra, the Minister said "We are not going to tell anyone where the base is. We don't want to create unnecessary agitations and pressures amongst Ghanaians. Even the President will not know."

He added that some communities have began voluntary work by reporting suspected Chinese Nationals who show signs of the deadly virus.

He mentioned that his Ministry together with the Bureau of National Investigation (BNI) recently stormed a community upon a tip-off over a self-made quarantine set up by some Chinese Nationals.

The Minister confirmed that he has tasked the community health Centre to keep an eye and frequently check the conditions of the Chinese living there.

Hon. Agyeman-Manu further disclosed that aside the GHc2. 8Million seed money given to his Ministry by Government, an additional GHc11Million from the Ministry of Finance has been provided to boost preparation against the virus.

Speaking on banning of flights, he mentioned that the fact that Kenya has banned flights from China does not mean Ghana should follow suit.

"Wuhan is a small town. Business activities are going on smoothly in China. China is a large so if Kenya is stopping flights from there but allowing flights from Italy to touch down at their Airport, what sense does it make," he quizzed.

He cautioned the media to be circumspect in their reportage stressing that all information about COVID-19 should come from designated staffs from the Health Ministry before it is disseminated.

Hon. Agyeman-Manu added that the Ministry has invited the private sector to support the fight against the deadly Coronavirus.

Director General, Ghana Health Service, Dr. Patrick Kumah-Aboagye hinted that although media reportages indicated that the Foreign National who was treated in Kumasi was suspected to have the virus, the results proved negative.

"Yes, a German came into the country. We heard that he had the virus. Series of tests were done on him which later turned out to be negative. We are informed he died few days later but I can confirm that his death was not as a result of the Coronavirus," he stated.

The Director General indicated that Ghanaians should be rest assured that the virus has not found its way into the country.

The Minister of Health also revealed that measures have been put in place to ensure that persons who enter Ghana through the various borders are checked before granted entry.

Hon Agyeman-Manu commended GUTA for controlling the movement of its members amidst fears of a supposed outbreak in neighbouring, Nigeria.