We can’t name govt officials with coronavirus - GHS chief

The Ghana Health Services (GHS) insists it will not name government officials who have tested positive for COVID-19 because it is not necessary.

Director-General Dr. Patrick Kuma-Aboagye told journalists at the Ministry of Information press update on Thursday that it was not ethically right to name individuals who have contracted the coronavirus because it is a personal decision.

“As I mentioned, I cannot really ethically, tell you all these numbers and mention names and their status.

“It cannot be done,” he said before making a comparison with the way he claims the media has handled Covid-19 outbreaks in its own space.

“I’m sure there are media men who have also been exposed and we don’t have their numbers and names [in the public domain] but those who came out and did that voluntarily, that’s what we encourage.

“We are not going to be able to mention anybody’s name and there is no need,” he added.

Dr. Kuma-Aboagye’s comments come against the background of growing pressure for the government officials to be open about their COVID-19 status as part of efforts to stop the stigma associated with the virus.

A number of government officials and senior political figures have contracted the virus.

Among them is the Health Minister, Kwaku Agyeman Manu.