Parliament has closed down its Public Gallery.
This is part of the House’s measures to stop the spread of the 2019 Novel Coronavirus in the country.
The decision was announced on Tuesday, March 17, 2020.
Citi News’ Parliamentary correspondent, Duke Mensah Opoku said the closure will be in place “until further notice.”
He said some emergency legislations are yet to be received from the Executive to enforce the new public gathering advisories announced by President Nana Akufo-Addo last Sunday.
President Nana Akufo-Addo on Sunday, March 15, 2020 announced new public gathering advisories to check the spread of COVID-19 in the country.
Among other things, he announced a ban on funerals, festivals, all religious activities, conferences and all other events that call for a mass gathering of people.
The president also directed the Attorney General to immediately submit to Parliament an emergency Legislation in accordance with Article 21 to help enforce all the measures announced.
He said he has further directed the Minister of Health to exercise his powers under section 169 of the Public Health Act, 2012, Act 851 by the immediate issuance of an Executive Instrument to govern the relevant and called on Parliament to support the Executive in “national endeavour.”
Coronavirus cases in Ghana
As at noon on Sunday, March 15, 2020, six cases of COVID-19 had been confirmed in Ghana.
Director of Public Health at Ghana Health Service, Dr Badu Sarkodie who provided updates on the country’s cases on Sunday said all the cases were imported into the country.
The first two cases were confirmed on Thursday, March 12, 2020.
Two other cases were confirmed on Friday, March 13, 2020, while an additional two were confirmed on Saturday, March 14, 2020.
Five of the cases were confirmed in the Greater Accra Region while the remaining one was confirmed in the Ashanti Region.
Health officials have been working to trace persons who have come into contact with the patients and may be at risk of contracting the virus.
