IMPOSITION OF RESTRICTIONS CORONA VIRUS DISEASE (COVID-19) PANDEMIC (NO.2) INSTRUMENT, 2020

WHEREAS, by the Declaration of Public Health Emergency (Coronavirus COVID-19 Pandemic) Instrument, 2020, (E.I. 61), the Minister for Health, having recognised the threat of the Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic 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;

WHEREAS, by the Establishment of Emergency Communications System Instrument, 2020 (E.I. 63), the President of the Republic made certain orders to enable Government trace all contacts of persons suspected of or affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, and identify places visited by persons suspected of or affected by the COVID-19 pandemic;

WHEREAS, in order to combat the COVID-19 pandemic and protect public health and public safety, the President, being satisfied that there existed circumstances, which required the imposition of certain restrictions, pursuant to subsection (1) of section 3 of the Imposition of Restrictions Act, 2020 (Act 1012), issued the Imposition of Restrictions Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) Pandemic Instrument, 2020 (E.I. 64); and

WHEREAS, on Friday, 27th March, 2020, the President, being satisfied of the need for further measures, addressed the nation on the effect of the restrictions that had been put in place to curtail the spread of COVID-19 in Ghana, and announced additional restrictions to contain and halt the spread of the virus within Ghana, especially in Accra, Tema, Kasoa and Kumasi, which have been identified by the Ghana Health Service as hotspots of the infections.

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 30th day of March, 2020.

1.      (1) There is imposed, by this Instrument, restrictions on the movement outside the place of abode of persons resident within the areas specified in the First Schedule.

           (2) Despite subparagraph (1), a person may move within the specified areas for the following purposes:

       (a) to obtain food, medicine and water;

       (b) to undertake banking transactions;

       (c) to use public toilet facilities; or

       (d) to pay for utility services.

(3)The restrictions specified in subparagraph (1) shall apply to inter-city movement of vehicles and aircraft for private or commercial purposes.

(4)A rider of a motorbike shall not carry a pillion rider.

(5)All intra-city passenger vehicles, including taxis and "tro-tros" shall reduce the number of passengers in order to observe specified social distancing and appropriate enhanced hygiene protocols.

(6)All commercial vehicle stations shall observe the specified social distancing and appropriate enhanced hygiene protocols.