Border closure extended to May 31 – Akufo-Addo orders

President Akufo-Addo has extended the closure of Ghana’s borders by another month following the increase in the number of confirmed cases of the global pandemic, the Coronavirus.

Speaking at a closed-door celebration of the Labour Day, organized by the state broadcaster GBC in conjunction with the Trade Union Congress (TUC), the president disclosed that the extension will be effected on Monday, May 4 at 1 am GMT.

President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo added that the decision was needed to manage the current local cases recorded in the country.

“…Government has taken the decision to extend further the closure of our borders for a month, effective 1 am on Monday 4th May until Sunday 31st May. We know that the overwhelming majority of positive cases came from travellers or contacts of travellers, so we have no option than to keep our borders closed until we are confident that we have put in place measures to prevent travellers from importing the virus.

“These restrictions cannot, and will not be a permanent feature of our lives. But they are for now essential for our survival,” he added.

Obviously adhering to the strict safety protocols, there were less than 25 persons in the room as the president addressed the nation with the majority of his audience being virtual.

Representatives of the Trade Union Congress were evenly spaced as some health workers also lined up behind him as he gave his speech.

With the onset of the fast-spreading deadly Coronavirus, Ghana has had to resort to a virtual mode of May Day Celebration, the first of its kind in the history of the country.

Throughout the years, not even torrential rains have been able to hold off the celebrations usually organized at the Black Star Square in Accra.

Ghana's COVID-19 case count stands at 2074 with 212 recoveries and a death toll of 17.