The Minister for Information, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah has confirmed that the two patients who tested positive for coronavirus in Ghana include a Ghanaian.

The Minister in an interview on the Citi Breakfast Show said the patients arrived in Ghana about a week ago from Turkey and Norway.

“One of the two people who tested positive for coronavirus came from Norway, the other came from Turkey. One is a foreigner, the other is a Ghanaian based abroad who returned to the country,” he said.

Kojo Oppong Nkrumah said officials have begun tracing all persons who have come into contact with the patients.

“Workplaces, domestic circles and social circles are part of the things or people being checked in our contact-tracing of the coronavirus patients although we can’t as yet provide timelines for when this will be completed,” he said.

Minister announces cases

The Minister of Health, Kweku Agyeman Manu at a press conference on Thursday night, March 12, 2020, announced the two cases.

The two cases according to the Health Minister, tested positive after laboratory tests from the Noguchi Memorial Institute of Medical Research.

The cases according to the Health Minister were reported as ‘imported cases’ as both individuals returned to Ghana from Norway and Turkey.

$100m allocated for coronavirus fight – Nana Addo

In an address to the nation on Wednesday, 11th March 2020, the President Akufo-Addo said he had directed the Minister for Finance, Ken Ofori-Atta, to make available the cedi equivalent of US$100 million to enhance Ghana’s Coronavirus preparedness and response plan.

This amount, according to President Akufo-Addo, “is to fund the expansion of infrastructure, purchase of materials and equipment, and public education”.

He further explained that with the declaration by the World Health Organisation (WHO) of the Coronavirus disease as a pandemic, it is important that Ghana steps up her preparedness to ensure that beyond the initial measures that have been put in place, a ‘whole of Ghana’ approach is adopted in preparation for a possible hit within the country’s borders.