Dr Anthony Nsiah Asare, the presidential advisor on health has advised President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to invoke sections of the public health act to make vaccination mandatory in the country.
His call comes amidst reluctance by some Ghanaians to participate in the ongoing mass vaccination across the country.
Speaking with Kwaku Nhyira Addo on the Asaase Breakfast Show on Monday (13 December) Dr Asare said the government cannot afford to contain a fourth wave of the COVID-19 pandemic.
” I will advise the President that he should invoke the public health act in Section 20,8 … of paragraph 22 … because it is very important, our health system is not as we know, even at places where they are making sure that people are vaccinated.”
“… And there are some areas that if you are not vaccinated, you may not be able to enter and that is done everywhere and when he invokes the public health act … because we cannot afford to have a fourth wave,” he said.
Listen to Dr Anthony Nsiah Asare in the audio below:
GHS reviews COVID-19 protocols for international travellers
Meanwhile the Ghana Health Service (GHS) has reviewed COVID-19 protocols for international travellers arriving at the Kotoka International Airport (KIA) as a result of a surge in cases.
In order to control the spread of the disease, the GHS in a statement on Thursday (9 December) said: “All persons 18 years and above arriving in Ghana will be required to provide evidence of full vaccination for a COVID-19 vaccine.”
It also added: “All unvaccinated Ghanaians and residents of Ghana who are currently outside the country and intend to return within 14 days from the midnight of 12 December2021, are exempted.
However, they would be vaccinated on arrival at the airport.
“All Ghanaians travelling out of the country are to be fully vaccinated effective midnight 12th December 2021.”
The health service said an average of 20 positive cases are recorded at the airport daily.
“In November 2020, 168 cases were detected compared to 241 cases in November 2021, an increase of over 40%. We have since been recording an average of 20 positive cases a day at KIA,” the statement signed by the director-general, Dr Patrick Kuma-Aboagye, said.
Below is the full statement:
Fred Dzakpata
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