Osafo-Maafo tests positive for covid-19

The Senior Minister,Yaw Osafo-Maafo, has contracted the dreaded covid-19, the Minister of Information, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, has revealed.

“Senior Minister Yaw has been informed that his sample taken, tested positive. He would, therefore, as of today start treatment for covid-19 from home.

“In consonance with our transparency,  he has instructed that we inform the general public accordingly,” the Information Minister said at Tuesday’s covid-19 media update in Accra.

The senior minister who has been in charge of covid-19 logistics is among a wave of ministers and appointees who have tested positive for the virulent disease, which has infected more than 21,000 people in Ghana.

The list includes the Minister of Health, Kwaku Agyeman-Manu and the Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry, Carlos Ahenkorah.

The Minister of Regional Reorganisation and Development, Dan Botwe: and the his counterpart at the Education ministry, Dr Matthew Opoku Prempeh were detained at the University of Ghana Medical School, but their results are yet to be made public.

Other appointees to have tested positive for the virus are the National Health Insurance Authority CEO, Dr Sylvia Dsane-Selby and the MCE for Sekondi-Takoradi, Anthony Kobina Kurentsir Sam, who had died from the disease.

Meanwhile, President Nana Akufo-Addo has entered the third day of his self-isolation.

The President  begun a 14-day self-isolation regime after at least one person from his inner circles tested positive for COVID-19.

The self-quarantine measure started today (Saturday, July 4), according to a press statement issued by Minister of Information, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah.

Contrary to information in the rumour mill that the President had been flown to the United Kingdon, the Information Minister said he was working from the Presidential Villa of the Jubilee House.

“The President continues his self-isolation while continuing the affairs of the state at the Presidential villa of the Jubilee House. The President has been conducting state business through telephone and other technologies,” he said.

Mr Oppong Nkrumah said while the President was in isolation, he was following keenly the country’s covid-19 response plan.