Majority of staff at Education Ministry Covid-19 positive – Napo

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Ghana’s Education Minister, Dr Matthew Opoku Prempeh, has revealed that a number of employees within his Ministry have been infected with Covid-19.

“At my workplace, everyone has been tested. A lot of them tested positive for the virus. Assuming I have a total staff of 50, about 45 of them have the virus. None of them has been hospitalized but they are currently in self-isolation,” he said.

Dr. Prempeh earlier tested negative for the virus but was still detained at the University of Ghana Medical Centre because he was unwell.

He subsequently tested positive for the virus but was discharged yesterday, July 8, 2020.

He disclosed on Peace FM’s morning show ‘Kokrokoo’ that: “It was only God that helped me while I was on admission. I was on admission for about four days when the results [from some of the other tests conducted] came that I was positive. I was subsequently discharged after being on admission for almost two weeks.”

“We [Ghana] are at a critical point now. UGMC and Korle Bu are currently full. How many beds are available there? I never visited the ICU but others went to ICU and never returned. We should therefore not be indifferent about the situation because it has not affected any of our relatives,” he added.

The Minister disclosed that all his relatives were also tested for Coronavirus.

Coronavirus Vrs Ghana Politicians

A number of government appointees in Ghana have tested positive for COVID-19 within the last few weeks.

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.

Ghana’s Health Minister, Kwaku Agyeman Manu also tested positive for the virus about three weeks ago and received treatment at the University of Ghana Medical Centre in Accra.

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.

Within the same period, Dan Botwe, the Minister for Regional Reorganization and Development was also admitted at the University of Ghana Medical Centre “upon feeling unwell”.

A Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry, Carlos Ahenkorah who also tested positive for the virus resigned because he visited a voter registration centre, contrary to advice by his doctor to self-isolate.

He has since resigned after receiving a public backlash.

Source: Daily Mail GH