Ghana’s President Nana Akufo-Addo has begun self-isolating after getting exposed to someone with COVID-19, a statement said Saturday.
“On the advice of doctors, the President of the Republic, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, is from today, July 4, 2020, taking a fourteen (14) day precautionary self-isolation measure in compliance with COVID-19 protocols,” the statement signed by Information Minister, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah said.
The statement noted that “the President has elected to do so after at least one person within his close circle tested positive for COVID-19 today.”
The statement further noted, although President Akufo-Addo has tested negative for the virus, he has still decided to self-isolate “out of the abundance of caution.”
“The President will during this precautionary self-isolation period, be working from the Presidential
Villa at the Jubilee House, Accra,” the statement added. It was not immediately clear how Akufo-Addo’s steps to self-isolate would impact his professional or public engagements.
Covid-19 status of top appointees in government
Akufo-Addo has led the Jubilee House Coronavirus taskforce. Top officials within his government who had tested positive for the deadly virus include Health Minister Kwaku Agyemang-Manu, Minister for Regional Integration Dan Botwe and Carlos Ahenkorah, a Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry.
The Chief Executive Officer of the Forestry Commission and former General Secretary of the governing New Patriotic Party Kwadwo Owusu Afriyie, popularly referred to as Sir John died on July 1, 2020, at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital as a result of COVID-19 complications.
The New Patriotic Party’s campaign manager for the 2020 general elections, Peter Mac Manu who also tested positive for COVID-19 is also currently receiving treatment at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital.
The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), Dr. Lydia Dsane-Selby, also tested positive for Coronavirus within the same period.
Mayor of the Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolitan Assembly, K.K. Sam, who also tested positive for the disease, however passed on.
The MCE died on Friday, June 12, 2020, while receiving treatment at the University of Ghana Medical Centre where he was rushed to after falling sick.
The Education Minister, Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh, was also detained at the University of Ghana Medical Centre on June 24, 2020, over fears of COVID-19 infection.
Source: Daily Mail GH