Ghana is West Africa’s most impacted nation behind Nigeria, at a point in May 2020, Ghana led the regional case load. June has started with progressive lifting of more virus restrictions.
President Akufo-Addo in his tenth address announced that whiles borders remained closed, some categories of academic institutions are allowed to resume, religious places can also reopen with strict conditions and the observance of health protocols.
Social gatherings -weddings, funerals etc. – are to be allowed under certain conditions – among others with maximum 100 participants. As the 2020 polls loom, even political activity is allowed to be undertaken.
This article will be focused on tracking case increases and major developments from the West African country. It will build on our April – May 2020 updates page.
July 20: 27,667 cases; high school exams kicks off
President Akufo-Addo on Sunday (July 19) tasked senior high school students across the country to take seriously all virus prevention measures as they kick start their final exams today.
Over 370,000 students will be taking this year’s West Africa Senior Secondary Certificate Examinations, WASSCE. The president reiterated the importance of forging ahead with the exams despite a global pandemic.
“Just as has been done over the course of the last four weeks, since their return to school, I continue to urge everyone associated with the conduct of this year’s WASSCE i.e. teaching and non-teaching staff, invigilators and students, to abide by the enhanced hygiene, mask wearing and social distancing protocols they have become accustomed to.
“They continue to remain our weapons in the fight to defeat COVID-19,” the president added. The exams is the final pre-tertiary step for students.
Nigeria, another country within the West Africa Examinations Council, WAEC, bloc; opted to cancel the exam with the federal government citing the fact that it was not safe to reopen schools at a time cases were rising.
Confirmed cases = 27,667
Active cases = 4,270
Recoveries = 23,249
Number of deaths = 148
Ghana Health Service stats valid as of July 19, 2020
July 19: 27,060 cases; death toll hits 145
488 new cases pushed Ghana’s COVID-19 count to 27,060; death toll now 145. Active cases are over 3,700 whiles recoveries have passed 23,000, the Ghana Health Service reported on Saturday.
Local media reports indicate that government is set to evacuate a number of citizens from London. Stranded footballers in Ethiopia who appealed for evacuation weeks back have finally arrived home.
Ghana’s land borders and airspace remains close to air traffic except for special cases. A number of African countries have began reopening their airspaces in past weeks.
President Akufo-Addo completed his self-isolation and tested negative for the virus. The elections body is going on with voter registration whiles senior high school final year students continue preparations for their West African Certificate Exams.
Confirmed cases = 27,060
Active cases = 3,871
