Head Pastor of Open Arms Ministries in Kumasi has been arrested for the second time for defying the Presidential directive on public gathering. Police sources say personnel of the Buffalo Unit picked up Apostle Kofi Nkansah Sarkodie from the church at North Suntreso on Sunday for leading congregational worship, despite the closure of other churches. This follows a similar arrest on Wednesday, March 18, at his church premises during a mid-week service. While receiving massive backlash on social media, his action was described as ‘total disregard for the measures put in place to prevent the spread of the coronavirus’ that has already infected 21 people, killing one. He was subsequently granted a police enquiry bail under strict condition not to engage in such breaches again. Meanwhile, sources say, Pastor Sark, as he is popularly called, will be put before court on Monday, March 23. Source: https://www.myjoyonline.com/
Coronavirus cases rise to 24 in Ghana
Three more cases of the novel Coronavirus have been confirmed by health officials in Ghana. This makes the number of active cases 23 with one death. “23 of the confirmed cases are receiving treatment in isolation and one of the cases who had an underlying chronic pulmonary condition prior to having COVID-19 died on Saturday, March 21, 2020,” the Ghana Health Service said in an update. The 23 infected persons, however, “are being managed in isolation, and are doing well on treatment,” the update stated. 17 out of the 23 persons are Ghanaians and seven are foreign nationals from Norway, Lebanon, China, France and the UK. Regarding contact tracing, a total of 575 contacts have been identified and are being tracked. One of the contacts developed symptoms and has been confirmed positive. As of 22 March 2020, 14:00 Hr. a total of 315 suspected cases have been tested for COVID-19 by Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research (NMIMR) and Kumasi Centre for Collaborative Research (KCCR).
Ghanaian professionals launch “Stop Coronavirus Ghana Campaign”
By Lydia Kukua Asamoah, GNA Accra, March 22, GNA – A group of Ghanaian professionals have come together to launch the “Stop Coronavirus Ghana Campaign”, as a measure to support efforts at combating the spread of the COVID-19. The “Stop Coronavirus Ghana Campaign” is a private sector-led coalition formed by local and international Ghanaian professionals, seeking to bring on board the expertise, skills, finances and resources to support Government’s interventions towards containing the COVID–19 pandemic in Ghana. Briefing the Ghana News Agency on Sunday in Accra, Mr Stephen Gyasi-Kwaw, the Coordinator of the Campaign, said its objective was to promote education on prevention and management to reduce the spread, fear and panic amongst the populace. It is also to create a platform for the private sector to actively get involved in working with government to find innovative and sustainable solutions for fighting the disease. Mr Gyasi-Kwaw said a Stop Coronavirus Ghana Fund would be established to provide support for private and public sector activities and projects toward the fight of the virus. The fund would also assist needy private and public healthcare institutions with equipment and resources to manage the disease and prevent its spread. “The fight against the COVID-19 pandemic can never be championed by the Government alone, but together with the collective efforts of the private sector we can achieve more in the shortest possible time in combating the spread of the disease in Ghana,” Mr Kwaw said. The Campaign will embark on various activities in areas of education, advocacy, support, and fundraising to help complement government’s efforts in fighting the pandemic. Mr Gyasi-Kwaw said currently, there were more than 30 Ghanaian professionals with expertise in technology, health care, fund management, project management, marketing and communications, entrepreneurship and business leadership, being members of the various working groups, and all were helping to mobilise resources and expertise to support the fight, both local and abroad. “We take this opportunity to make a national appeal to Ghanaians in every part of the world, as well as friends of Ghana to join the Stop Coronavirus Ghana Campaign. United we can win the war against the COVID-19 pandemic in Ghana,” he said. He said in the next couple of days the fund would be launched, and the website would be up, adding; “we are seeing this as pure emergency initiative to help in the prevention, education, advocacy and support programme to the COVID-19.” Source: https://ghananewsagency.org/
