Ghana president self-isolates after meeting COVID-19 patient

Ghana President Nana Akufo-Addo has gone into isolation for two weeks after someone close to him tested positive for COVID-19.

In a statement on Saturday, Kojo Nkrumah, Ghana’s minister of information, said the president has tested negative but has taken the measure in line with COVID-19 protocols.

Nkrumah said Akufo-Addo would keep working from the presidential villa in Accra, the country’s capital.

“On the advice of doctors, the president of the republic, Nana Akufo-Addo, is from today, July 4, 2020, taking a 14-day precautionary measure in compliance with COVID-19 protocols,” the minister said.

“The president has elected to do so after at least one person within his close circle tested positive for COVID-19 today.

“He has, as at today, tested negative, but has elected to take this measure out of the abundance of caution.

“The president will during this precautionary self-isolation period, be working from the presidential villa at the Jubilee House, Accra.”

Last week, Carlos Ahenkorah, Ghana deputy minister for trade and industry, resigned after breaching COVID-19 protocols.

Ahenkorah tested positive for the virus but visited a registration centre in his constituency before his self-isolation period was complete.

So far, as of July 4, 2020, the country has recorded 19,388 cases of COVID-19.

While 14,330 patients have recovered, 177 have people have died.