The temporal lockdown announced by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo on Friday night as part of the measures to contain the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic took effect this dawn.
For the next two weeks, residents of Accra, Tema, Kasoa, Kumasi, and Obuasi are expected to stay indoors, except when they need to buy food, water, medicine, undertake banking transactions, or visit a public toilet.
The lockdown, according to the President, is a necessary measure to control the spread of the pandemic. As at mid-day yesterday, about 151 cases had been recorded, with 4 deaths.
The lockdown is expected to restrict movements in the Accra Metropolis, Tema Metropolis, Tema West, Kpone-Katamanso, Krowor, Ledzokuku, Adentan, Ashiaman, La-Nkwantanang, Madina, La-Dade-Kotopon, and Okaikwei North.
The rest are Ablekuma North, Ablekuma West, Ablekuma Central, Ayawaso East,
Ayawaso North, Ayawaso West, Ayawaso Central, Ga North, Ga West, Ga South, Ga Central, Ga East, Korle-Klottey, Weija/Gbawe, Awutu-Senya East.
In Kumasi and its peri-urban communities, the lockdown would affect the Kumasi Metropolis, Asokwa, Suame, Old Tafo, Oforikrom, Asokore Mampong, Kwadaso, Atwima Nwabiagya, Kwabre East, Ejisu, Afigya-Kwabre South, Bosomtwe, Atwima Kwanwoma, and Atwima Nwabiagya North
Also, businesses are expected to suspend operations except institutions under the Executive, Legislature and the Judiciary.
Other institutions exempted from the lockdwon are those involved in production, distribution and marketing of food, beverages, pharmaceuticals, medicine, paper and plastic packages.
The rest are institutions in the environmental and sanitation sector, VALCO, Road and Railway, construction workers, mining workers, fisherfolk, members of the security agencies assigned lawful duties, ECG, Ghana Water Company Limited, telecommunications companies, e-commerce and digital service providers, and fuel stations.
During this period, there shall be no inter-city movement of vehicles and aircraft for private or commercial purposes for the areas of the restrictive measures, except for vehicles and aircrafts providing essential services and those carrying cargo.
Riders of motorbikes are not allowed to carry any additional person, and all intra-city passenger vehicles, such as ‘trotros’ and taxis, must reduce the number of passengers in order to observe appropriate social distancing and hygiene protocols.
President Akufo-Addo said the measures would be reviewed based on new developments.
BY YAW KYEI
