The president of Ghana Nana Akufo-Addo has suspended all public gatherings, including prayer sessions in mosques and churches, as the country’s number of infected cases of the coronavirus pandemic climbed from two to six on Sunday.
President Nana Akufo-Addo, in an address on Sunday evening, ordered the suspension of public gatherings, including religious services for the next four weeks.
“I have decided in the interest of public safety and the protection of our population to review the public gathering advisories earlier announced as follows: Firstly, all public gatherings including conferences, workshops, funerals, festivals, political rallies, sporting events and religious activities, such as services in churches and mosques, have been suspended for the next four (4) weeks,” the president said.
The president further directed that all schools, including universities and basic schools, be closed down from Monday, March 16, 2020, until further notice. Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) and West African Senior School Certificate Examination candidates will however be allowed to attend school.
— Nana Akufo-Addo (@NAkufoAddo) March 11, 2020
“All Universities, Senior High Schools, and basic schools, i.e. public and private schools, will be closed Monday, 16th March 2020, till further notice.
Here are excerpts of my address to the nation on the updates taken to combat the spread of Coronavirus pic.twitter.com/4e0K2yWecg
— Nana Akufo-Addo (@NAkufoAddo) March 15, 2020
The Ministry of Education, in collaboration with the Ministry of Communication, has been tasked to roll out distance learning programmes. However, BECE and WASSCE candidates will be allowed to attend school to prepare for their examinations, but with prescribed social distancing protocols,” the president added.
