Akufo-Addo extends closure of Ghana’s borders by two weeks

President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has extended the closure of Ghana’s borders by two weeks.

The extension takes effect from midnight April 5, 2020.

The Minister for Information, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah in a Tweet on Saturday said; “President Akufo-Addo has by a new Executive Instrument, EI 66, extended the closure of Ghana’s borders by another two weeks effective midnight tomorrow April 5.”

“Mr President believes that these tough decisions are necessary to protect the lives of Ghanaians despite the inconvenience it causes to many,” he added.

He said the extension of the border closure order is to ensure that there is no risk of importation of COVID-19 into Ghana while the country focuses on the enhanced contact tracing and testing program currently underway.

Ghana’s air, sea and land borders were closed on Sunday, March 22, 2020 following an order by President Akufo-Addo as part of efforts to stop the spread of COVID-19 in the country.

“Anybody who comes into the country, before midnight on Sunday, will be mandatorily quarantined and tested for the virus,” the president noted during a national address.

H.E Akufo-Addo at the time said the closure was to be in force for two weeks subject to review.

The border closure, however, does not apply to goods, supplies and cargo.

Confirmed COVID-19 cases in Ghana as at 2:00 GMT on Sunday, April 5, 2020 stand at 214.

The number includes five deaths and three recoveries.

Majority of the cases were recorded in Accra.