The Ghana Union of Traders’ Association (GUTA), is urging the trading public to go about their businesses while they adhere to the health and safety protocols aimed at curbing the spread of the Coronavirus pandemic as put out health officials.
This follows the announcement by the Accra Metropolitan Assembly, AMA, to disinfect some selected markets in the Greater Accra Region on Monday, March 23, 2020, in its quest to guard against the novel coronavirus pandemic’s spread in Ghana.
A statement signed by the President of the Ghana Union of Traders’ Association, Dr. Joseph Obeng, stated that “GUTA has learnt from the authorities that the exercise that comes off this coming Monday 23rd March, 2020, will not cover the whole of Accra, and therefore shops and businesses where the operation will not affect can open for business and for any other place where the disinfection exercise is not taking place.”
It further noted that, “Inasmuch as GUTA fully supports government and other arms of government in combating this pandemic in order to contain the spread in our dear country, we in GUTA feel that this exercise can be done while ensuring that traders can still do some business, while we still adhere to the precautionary measures put out by President, Nana Akufo-Addo.”
Markets to be closed for disinfection exercise
As part of a nationwide disinfection exercise of public spaces to control the spread of Coronavirus, the Minister for Local Government and Rural Development, Hajia Alima Mahama on Friday 20th March, 2020, announced that markets in the Greater Accra Region will be closed on Monday, March 23, 2020 to allow for fumigation,
She said the decision was arrived at after an engagement with the traders. The exercise is to be replicated on different dates in other parts of the country.
“They all agreed on Monday and I was happy. They all see that there is expediency in the matter and we have to do it quick… in the Greater Accra Region, markets will be closed on Monday,” she said.
Cases in Ghana
The novel Coronavirus cases in Ghana have increased to 21, with one death recorded on Saturday, March 21, 2020, involving a 61-year old Lebanese resident in Ghana.
The latest novel coronavirus (COVID-19) updates from the Ghana Health Service suggest that cases of community spread may have been detected.
One of the cases involves a 34-year-old woman who was a “contact of a confirmed case at her place of work,” according to the Ghana Health Service.
Another case involves a 29-year-old woman resident of Accra with no history of travel outside Ghana.
Also, a man, aged 53, who is a resident in Tema, who has no history of travel outside Ghana tested positive for the virus.
How is the virus spread?
The virus is spread mainly between people who are in close contact with one another, i.e within about 6 feet, and via respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs or sneezes.
These droplets can land in the mouths or noses of people who are nearby or possibly be inhaled into one’s lungs.
To prevent the spread, the standard recommendations coming from the World Health Organisation and the Ghana Health Service are regular hand washing, covering one’s mouth and nose when coughing and sneezing, thoroughly cooking meat and eggs and social distancing.
People are also advised to avoid close contact with anyone showing symptoms of respiratory illness such as coughing and sneezing.
