Chinese company in Ghana embrace Akufo-Addo's 'stay home' advice

A Chinese tile manufacturing company operating in the Western Region has resolved to heed President Nana Akufo-Addo’s advice to people to restrict their movements in a bid to stop the spread of the novel coronavirus disease.

Management and staff of the company, Keda Ceramic Ghana Limited, have thus reached an agreement to allow workers wishing to continue with their work at the factory, the opportunity to stay on voluntarily.

Both management and staff of the company at a meeting to discuss precautionary measures against the virus which has infected 152 people in the country and killed five of them, expressed the need to be proactive and responsive to the global pandemic.

In line with that, effective 5:00 p.m. Monday, the company said interested workers will be given accommodation on its premises, and that “groceries and food vendors will be available on Keda premises to serve the needs of staff”

The workers have welcomed the move, maintaining that it will serve their interest and that of the nation.

Keda said as a responsible company which believes in and follows best international practices, it will help the President and national efforts in the fight against the virus which has caused health crisis in some advance countries including Italy, Spain, US, UK and France.

Currently, management and staff are adhering to strict hygienic measures, including regular hand washing with soap under running water, hand sanitizing, wearing of face masks and gloves as advised by the Ministry of Health and the World Health Organization.

Keda Ceramics recently partnered with a sister Chinese firm, Sunda Ghana, to donate detergents, soaps, hand sanitizers, among others, to the Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, Ghana.

The donation formed part of the company’s corporate social responsibility and contribution to the fight against the deadly coronavirus.

Lockdown

President Nana Akufo-Addo in his the latest precautionary measure to stem the tide in the virus spread announced a partial two-week lockdown of the Accra metropolitan area, Tema, Kasoa and the Kumasi metropolitan area which have been identified as hotspots for the virus.

During the lockdown which takes effect from 1:00 a.m. Monday, residents in the affected areas will be allowed access to essential services, including shopping for foodstuffs, fuel or power and the use of public toilets

Ahead of the lockdown, hundreds of people in Accra have begun fleeing the city while others stormed shops and markets Saturday to stock up food and other essential supplies they will need during the period.