Akufo-Addo donates three months pay into new Covid-19 fund

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Ghanaian leader Akufo-Addo is donating his three months salary to a newly established fund to improve the lives of Covid-19 patients.

The over $12,000 seed money donated by the President would be wired into the Covid-19 Fund from his April, May and June salaries.

The donation sets the pace for public contributions to help improve the lives of the vulnerable who will be worst-hit by the pandemic.

The fund will be headed by a former Chief Justice Sophia Akuffo, the President said during a late-night address to the nation on Friday, March 27, 2020.

“I am announcing tonight the establishment of a COVID-19 Fund, to be managed by an independent board of trustees, and chaired by former Chief Justice, Sophia Akuffo, to receive contributions and donations from the public to assist in the welfare of the needy and the vulnerable”, Mr Akufo-Addo said.

He added: “I have directed the Controller and Accountant General to pay my next three months’ salary, i.e. April, May and June, into this Fund”.

Already, churches and financial institutions have donated to help in the fight. “God richly bless them”, the President said.

Parts of Ghana on partial lockdown

In the same address, however, the President announced a partial lockdown of the capital Accra.

Movement has also been restricted in Kumasi, Ghana’s largest city and the industrial hub of Tema which have been named as epicenters of the Covid-19 disease.

Government, however, said the decision is to halt the spread of the virus which has so far killed four persons.

“… Effective 1am on Monday, 30th March, some forty-eight hours from now, I have imposed, pursuant to the powers granted the President of the Republic, under the Imposition of Restrictions Act, 2020 (Act 1012), restrictions on movement of persons in the Greater Accra Metropolitan Area (GAMA, which includes Awutu Senya East), and the Greater Kumasi Metropolitan Area and contiguous districts, for a period of two (2) weeks, subject to review”, the President declared.

“Prevailing circumstances mean that stricter measures have to be put in place to contain and halt the spread of the virus within our country, especially in Accra, Tema, Kasoa and Kumasi, which have been identified by the Ghana Health Service as the ‘hotspots’ of the infections”, President Akufo-Addo said.

Affected areas in Greater Accra

In the capital Accra, the following areas will be affected:

1. Accra Metropolis;
2. Tema Metropolis;
3. Tema West Municipality;
4. Ledzokuku Municipality;
5. Krowor Municipality;
6. Adentan Municipality;
7. Ashiaman Municipality;
8. La-Nkwantanang-Madina Municipality;
9. La-Dade-Kotopon Municipality;
10. Okaikwei North Municipality;
11. Ablekuma North Municipality;
12. Ablekuma West Municipality;
13. Ablekuma Central Municipality;
14. Ayawaso East Municipality;
15. Ayawaso North Municipality;
16. Ayawaso West Municipality;
17. Ayawaso Central Municipality
18. Ga West Municipality;
19. Ga North Municipality;
20. Ga Central Municipality;
21. Ga South Municipality;
22. Ga East Municipality;
23. Korle-Klottey Municipality;
24. Weija/Gbawe Municipality;
25. Kpone Katamanso Municipality; and
26. Awutu Senya East Municipality.

Affected areas in Kumasi

In the Greater Kumasi Metropolitan Area and contiguous districts, the following areas are affected:

1. Kumasi Metropolis;
2. Asokwa Municipality;
3. Suame Municipality;
4. Old Tafo Municipality;
5. Oforikrom Municipality;
6. Asokore Mampong Municipality;
7. Kwadaso Municipality;
8. Atwima Nwabiagya Municipality;
9. Kwabre East Municipality;
10. Ejisu Municipality;
11. Afigya-Kwabre South District;
12. Bosomtwi District;
13. Atwima Kwanwoma District; and
14. Atwima Nwabiagya North District.

The partial lockdown according to the President, “means that everyone resident in these areas must stay at home for the next two weeks or 14 days.”

“However, if you must go out, it must only be to get essential items such as food, medicine, water, undertake banking transactions, or to use public toilet facilities. But, as much as possible, stay at home,” the President clarified.

By Jonathan Ofori, Daily Mail GH