Health advisor to the President, Dr Anthony Nsiah Asare has clarified his earlier position that there may be an exponential increase in Ghana’s corona virus case count and high deaths the in the coming weeks.
Explaining his position, the former Director-General of the Ghana Health Service, said his opinions were purely hypothetical and based on information from the World Health Organization should developing countries sit aloof and watch the virus spread.
Appearing on Joy News TV evening programme on Tuesday April 21, Dr Nsiah Asare said projections were that, “about 10 per cent of the population may be infected and out of the 10 per cent of the population 80 per cent may not show signs or symptoms at all, and 5 per cent of them will be very ill”.
But speaking at the Minister’s press briefing on Wednesday, April 22, Dr Nsiah Asare said his “argument was based on hypothetical information given by the WHO and does not relate to Ghana’s situation because the government has so far taken the necessary and appropriate precautionary measures to avert any of such occurrence”.
Dr Nsia Asare’s comments, which appeared controversial thus caused panic among a section of the Ghanaian populace have since sparked debate between government spokespersons and a section of the public.
To many, his earlier position only confirms allegations that the government has been suppressing data on the covid-19 case counts.
The Information Minister, Kojo Oppong-Nkrumah who opened the session, encouraged the public to wear mask as was an assured way of preventing the virus spread, but added, “All other guidelines given earlier are still in force.”
On the Covid-19 Trust Fund, he said monies accrued would not go to the central government as the Fund is managed by a board of trustees in accordance with guidelines approved by parliament.
Source: Edward A. Ken-Zorre | www.diamondfmonline.com | Ghana
