Government has clarified that persons trading in the food value chain are exempted from the lockdown in Accra and Kumasi which will be effective dawn of Monday, March 30, 2020, in the wake of coronavirus outbreak in Ghana.
According to government, cooking of food to sale is not prohibited, but the provision of services for people to sit, congregate to eat. It is allowed for persons to cook and sell for patrons to take away.
The Minister of Information, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah made the clarification during a press conference on Sunday to update the nation on the latest measure being taken to contain the spread of the coronavirus and details about the enforcement of the impending lockdown.
President Akufo-Addo last Friday announced a lockdown in Accra and Kumasi Metropolis following a spike in cases of the covid-19 pandemic.
The directive will affect Accra, Kumasi, Tema, Kasoa among others, declared by the Ghana Health Service(GHS) as the hotspots of the pandemic in the country.
Meanwhile, essential workers have been exempted from the temporary measures announced by the President as the lockdown takes effect Monday dawn.
Ghana’s confirmed cases have scaled up to 152 with four deaths.
Below is a summary of the Restrictions Imposed on Selected Areas in Ghana by Government for 2 weeks.
2.In Greater Accra, the following areas will be affected:
– Accra Metropolis
-Tema Metropolis
-Tema West
-Kpone Katamanso
-Krowor
-Ledzokuku
-Adentan
– Ashiaman
La-Nkwantanang-Madina
-La-Dade-Kotopon
-Okaikwei North
-Ablekuma North
-Ablekuma West
-Ablekuma Central
-Ayawaso East
-Ayawaso North
-Ayawaso West
-Ayawaso Central
-Ga North
-Ga West
-Ga South
-Ga Central
Ga East
-Korle-Klottey
-Weija/Gbawe
-Awutu Senya East
3.In the Greater Kumasi Metropolitan Area the following areas are affected:
*Kumasi Metropolis;
*Asokwa
* Suame
*Old Tafo
*Oforikrom
*Asokore Mampong
*Kwadaso
*Atwima Nwabiagya
*Kwabre East
*Ejisu
*Afigya-Kwabre South
*Bosomtwe
*Atwima Kwanwoma
*Atwima Nwabiagya North
4.This means that everyone resident in these areas must stay at home for the next two weeks or 14 days, However, if you must go out, it must only be to get essential items such as food, water, medicine, undertake banking transactions, or to use public toilet facilities. But, as much as possible, stay at home.
5.There shall be, during this period, no inter-city movement of vehicles and aircraft for private or commercial purposes for the areas of the restrictive measures, except for vehicles and aircrafts providing essential services and those carrying cargo.
6.-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.
7. All commercial vehicle stations shall observe appropriate hygiene protocols and social distancing.
8.Individuals and institutions providing the following services shall be exempted from the restrictions: Members of the Executive, Legislature and the Judiciary; Production, distribution and marketing of food, beverages, pharmaceuticals, medicine, paper and plastic packages.
Environmental and sanitation activities; VALCO staff, Road and Railway, construction workers; Mining workers; Fisherfolk; Members of the security agencies assigned lawful duties. The staff of electricity, water, telecommunications, e-commerce and digital service providers and Fuel stations staff.