Ghana’s schools will reopen partly as the country gradually begins to reopen following a weeks-long shut down aimed at curbing the spread of COVID-19.

In a televised address on Sunday evening, Ghana’s President Nana Akufo-Addo announced various measures aimed at easing restrictions.

The West African country’s schools will reopen their doors to final year students scheduled to take their last exams this year.

“Prior to the opening of schools and universities, the Ministry of Education, and the heads of public and private educational institutions, will fumigate and disinfect their institutions. Each student, teacher, and non-teaching staff will be provided with re-usable face masks by the Ministry of Education,” said President Akufo-Addo. “For the avoidance of doubt, all other educational facilities, private and public, for non-final year students, will remain closed.”

The head of state also announced a partial easing of a ban on public gatherings, now allowing conferences, workshops, weddings and political activities to take place, albeit with a maximum attendance of 100 people observing social distancing guidelines.

Other public gatherings will however remain closed, including sporting events, nightclubs, political rallies and large religious gatherings.

President Akufo-Addo also announced an indefinite extension of non-essential foreign travel, with the exception of evacuations of Ghanaians that are stranded abroad. These travelers will however have to stay in mandatory quarantine upon their arrival in the country.

The 76-year-old said his administration would work to strengthen the country’s public health sector to serve Ghanaians better.

“We have learnt many lessons from this pandemic. The most obvious is that we have to fortify urgently our public health system,” he said. Universal Health Coverage must become reality for all Ghanaians, not a slogan, for every Ghanaian deserves good health and good healthcare.”

Ghana has so far reported 8,070 COVID-19 infections with 36 deaths.

President Akufo-Addo urged all Ghanaians to observe the set health protocols in a bid to curb further spread of the disease.

Source(s): Office of the President – Ghana