Coronavirus: We’re ready – KIA MD assures Akufo-Addo

The Managing Director of the Ghana Airport Company, Mr Yaw Kwakwa, has assured the President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, and by extension the Ghanaian people that the Kotoka International Airport is ready to deal with any threat posed by the coronavirus that is currently sweeping through the world.

He gave the assurance when he addressed journalists at the Kotoka International Airport after giving President Akufo-Addo a guided tour through the processes that passengers arriving at the airport are subjected to by way of checks to ascertain their health status.

“We are well prepared to deal with the coronavirus issue through every international standard,” Mr Yaw Kwakwa said.

On the visit of the President, Mr Kwakwa said it was to afford the first gentleman of the land, an opportunity to know at first hand the level of preparedness of the airport in dealing with the coronavirus outbreak.

“From what he said when he was getting into his car, he is very satisfied that we have put in place measures along international guidelines to make sure that the country is well protected against the coronavirus,” Mr Kwakwa stated.

He further noted that so far, the airport has not recorded any case of coronavirus but they have had two threats of passengers with temperatures about normal. The individuals involved were quarantined and Covid 19 tests have been run on them which came out as negative.

President Akufo-Addo in order to validate the system subjected himself to the process by checking his temperature. He recorded a normal temperature that poses no threat whatsoever. The President as part of his three facilities inspection tour will also visit the Ridge Hospital and the Tema General hospital to be briefed on their readiness for coronavirus cases in Ghana.

Authorities worldwide have confirmed more than 92,000 cases of the virus with more than 80,000 are in China.

More than 3,000 people have died globally with the majority in China. The worst-hit country outside China remains South Korea whereas at today Wednesday the 4th of March 2020, reported 516 new confirmed infections, bringing the total to 5,328. The country’s death toll stands at 33.