IMPOSITION OF RESTRICTIONS (CORONAVIRUS DISEASE (COVID-19) PANDEMIC) INSTRUMENT, 2020

WHEREAS, on Wednesday, 11th March, 2020, the Director­ General of the World Health Organization declared the Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) a pandemic, pointing to the over one hundred and eighteen thousand cases reported in over one hundred and ten countries and territories around the world and the sustained risk of further global spread;

WHEREAS, according to the World Health Organization, the COVID-19 is a new strain that was discovered in 2019 and had not been previously identified in humans, and whose signs of infection include respiratory symptoms, fever, cough, shortness of breath and breathing difficulties; and in more severe cases, can cause pneumonia, severe acute respiratory syndrome, kidney failure and even death;

WHEREAS, on Thursday, 12th March, 2020, I, the President of the Republic, addressed the nation on the measures taken by Government in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, at which time there had not been any reported or confirmed case in Ghana;

WHEREAS, on Friday, 13th March, 2020, the first two cases of COVID-19 were reported and confirmed in Ghana;

WHEREAS, on Sunday, 15th March, 2020, the Minister for Information at a press briefing informed the people of Ghana that the number of cases of COVID-19 had increased to six and issued several guidelines for entry into Ghana and other related preventive measures;

WHEREAS, on Sunday, 15th March, 2020, I chaired a meeting of the Inter-Ministerial Committee on COVID-19 Response, to review the public gathering advisories in the interest of public safety and protection of all people living in Ghana, and, subsequent to that meeting, addressed the nation on the new protocols for public gatherings;

WHEREAS, on Saturday, 2l5t March, 2020, I chaired a meeting of the Inter-Ministerial Committee on COVID-19 Response, to review the country's position, and, subsequent to that meeting, addressed the nation on additional measures to stem the spread of the virus, and protect the lives of Ghanaians;

WHEREAS, the Minister for Health, having recognised the threat of COVID-19 to life and health and its potential to escalate and cause danger to the life and health of people living in Ghana, exercised the powers conferred on the Minister under sections 169 and 170 of the Public Health Act, 2012 (Act 851) and declared a public health emergency, pursuant to the Declaration of Public Health Emergency (Coronavirus COVID-19 Pandemic) Instrument, 2020 (E.I. 61); and

WHEREAS, in order to combat the COVID-19 pandemic and protect public health and public safety, I am satisfied that there exist circumstances which require the imposition of certain restrictions, pursuant to subsection (1) of section 3 of the Imposition of Restrictions Act, 2020 (Act 1012).

NOW, THEREFORE, in exercise of the power conferred on the President under subsection (1) of section 2 of the Imposition of Restrictions Act, 2020 (Act 1012), this Instrument is made this 23rd day of March, 2020.

1.      (1) There is imposed, by this Instrument, restrictions on

(a) public gatherings, including

                   (i) conferences;

                  (ii) workshops;

                  (iii) funerals;

                  (iv) festivals;

                  (v) political rallies;

                  (vi) sporting events and sporting clubs;

                   (vii) private parties and other social gatherings;

                 (viii) night clubs and event centres; and

                    (xi) religious activities in churches, mosques, shrines and at crusades, conventions, pilgrimages and other religious gatherings; and

(b)  travel to Ghana.

            (2) All public gatherings set out in paragraph 1 (1) (a) have been suspended.

(3)Despite paragraph 1 (2), a private burial may be carried out with not more than twenty-five persons in attendance.

(4)All universities and other tertiary institutions, training institutions, senior high schools, basic schools, public and private schools, nurseries, creches, and such other schools have been closed down.

(5)The Ministry of Education, in collaboration with the Ministry of Communications, may, as far as practicable, run distance learning programmes.