Speaking to our reporter in New York, the deputy minister said President Mahama – as head of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) - understands the magnitude of the pandemic which has plagued other neighboring West African countries and has thus instituted stringent measures to protect Ghanaians from an outbreak while still living up to his role as ECOWAS head.
Ghana’s deputy information minister Felix Kwakye Ofosu credits the fact that Ghana has so far not reported any cases of the Ebola virus to prudent management by the government and other agencies and not by chance.
Speaking to our reporter in New York, the deputy minister said President Mahama – as head of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) - understands the magnitude of the pandemic which has plagued other neighboring West African countries and has thus instituted stringent measures to protect Ghanaians from an outbreak while still living up to his role as ECOWAS head.
“It is not a mere coincidence that Ghana remains free of Ebola. It is the result of practical measures put in place by this government to ensure that Ghanaians are protected from the outbreak” he said.
Mr. Kwakye Ofosu cited the setting up of emergency centers as well as training of health workers in some major hospitals to deal with a possible outbreak as some of the measures.
He further emphasized that Ghana under President Mahama is not only taking steps to deal with Ebola but is also taking a leadership role in the fight against the dreadful virus. “The President has offered Accra as an operational headquarters to coordinate the efforts of all the different agencies fighting the epidemic”, he told Sahara Reporters.
Meanwhile, contrary to the deputy minister’s assertions, some critics have decried Ghana’s set methods of checking the entry of the virus into the country. According to an Accra daily, the country’s attitude towards scrutinizing travellers at the entry points into the country leaves much to be desired.
According to the Daily Heritage, most travellers entering the country are not issued with health declaration forms, which would seek to find out if they have recently been to areas known for the outbreak. The paper alleges that perhaps the only credible procedure conducted by officials is a quick screening of arrivals with a temperature gun (thermometer), but even that is said to be done rather hurriedly.
The paper also alleges that the officials lack the proper equipment and protective gear for any serious screening of Ebola. Reacting to these allegations however, Michael Achabeng, officer-in-charge of Ebola Responsiveness at the Port Health, explained that the health declaration forms are only issued to persons known to be travelling from Ebola-hit countries.
With the debate still raging over Thomas Duncan, the Liberian national alleged to have lied on US health declaration forms, some concerned citizens are wondering if it is time for Ghana and other West African countries that have not been hit by the contagion to tighten up their port protocols.