Ghanaian president announces easing of Covid-19 restrictions

In his 14th address to the Ghanaian nation President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo declared a further easing of Covid-19 restrictions imposed by the government, stating that life can't be permanently put on hold as the country seeks to restore some normalcy in order to revive its economy.

Ghana has already started the process of lifting lockdown restrictions in its bid to overcome the pandemic crisis and its consequences.

Lifting ban on places of worship

One of the new measures that will come into force as of 1 August is the lifting of a ban on some mosques and churches by extending the length of time people are permitted to worship to two hours.

The Ghanaian president called on religious figures and leaders to ensure that worship rituals are performed in compliance with all safety protocol measures including wearing face-masks, hand-sanitizing, and maintaining a distance of at least 1 meter between people.

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Akufo-Addo: "We are learning to live with the reality of the virus"

“Life cannot be put on hold indefinitely, and Ghana can not remain in a never-ending crisis management situation. That is why we have been putting measures in place to gradually restore some normalcy in our social and economic lives, as we learn to cope with the reality of the virus,” Akufo-Addo noted.

Although the president revealed that Ghana's borders will remain closed until further notice with “a special dispensation granted to Ghanaian nationals who want to return home from abroad, with a mandatory quarantine", his newly-issued orders allowed the re-opening of some tourist centers and open-air drinking spots. He also lifted some restrictions in regard to public transport and domestic flights.

As of Sunday, Ghana's case count stood at 32,437 while 168 patients have died from Covid-19 related illnesses.