Parliament yesterday closed down its Public Gallery as part of measures to prevent the spread of the coronavirus in the country.
The closure would be in place until further notice as the House was preparing to receive some emergency legislations from the Executive to enforce the new public gathering advisories announced by President Nana Akufo-Addo on Sunday, March 15, 2020.
President Akufo-Addo announced new public gathering advisories to check the spread of Coronavirus Disease-2019 (COVID-19) in Ghana.
He directed that funerals, festivals, all religious activities, conferences and all other events that call for a mass gathering of people more than 25 be banned for the next four weeks.
President Akufo-Addo also directed the Attorney-General and Minister for Justice to immediately submit to Parliament, an emergency Legislation in accordance with Article 21 of Ghana’s Constitution to help enforce all the measures announced.
He also directed the Minister for Health to exercise his powers under section 169 of the Public Health Act, 2012, Act 851 by the immediate issuance of an Executive Instrument to govern the relevant and called on Parliament to support the Executive in “national endeavour.”
COVID-19 cases in Ghana
Six cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed in Ghana so far, according to official information.
Director of Public Health at Ghana Health Service, Dr Badu Sarkodie who provided updates on the country’s cases on Sunday said all the cases were imported into the country.
The first two cases were confirmed on Thursday, March 12, 2020.
Two other cases were confirmed on Friday, March 13, 2020, while an additional two were confirmed on Saturday, March 14, 2020.
Five of the cases were confirmed in the Greater Accra Region while the remaining one was confirmed in the Ashanti Region.
Health officials have been working to trace persons who have come into contact with the patients and may be at risk of contracting the virus.
