The Ghana Health Service (GHS) has revealed that it will not be naming people infected with coronavirus, especially government appointees.
According to Dr. Patrick Kumah Aboagye, the Director General of the GHS, it is unethical for the names and positions of individuals infected with the coronavirus to be made public, saying it does not even aid the stigmatization fight.
Dr. Aboagye, who was Speaking at the Covid-19 press briefing at the Ministry of Information, said, “As I mentioned, I cannot really, ethically, tell you all these numbers and mention names and their status. It cannot be done.”
According to him, although the GHS cannot expose Covid-19 patients, what is being encouraged is for them to come out voluntarily to disclose their status.
“I’m sure there are media men who have also been exposed, and we don’t have their numbers and names (in the public domain) but those who came out and did that voluntarily, that’s what we encourage. We are not going to be able to mention anybody’s name and there is no need,” he emphasized.
Dr. Aboagye’s comments come after increasing report of government officials testing positive for Covid-19, the latest being Kwadwo Owusu Afriyie, the former General Secretary of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP), who passed away yesterday from Covid-19 complications.
- K. Sam, the Mayor of the Sekondi Takoradi Metropolitan Assembly, also reportedly died from Covid-19 complications.
Peter Mac Manu, the NPP’s campaign manager for the 2020 general election, is also currently reported to be receiving treatment at the Intensive Care Unit of the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital after both tested positive for Covid-19.
Carlos Ahenkorah, the Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry, who was portrayed as being in ICU at Korle Bu, has rubbished the news saying he is doing well.
“My attention has been drawn to messages circulating on social media to the effect that I am in ICU after testing positive to Covid-19 sending worrying signals and misinformation to my well wishers and party faithful. I must categorically state that I am not in ICU neither am I at Korle Bu at the moment,” he said.
“I was admitted for an overnight review on my Covid-19 status at the ISOLATION CENTRE at Korle Bu yesterday around 5pm and discharged at 11am this morning. I have not in anyway been taking ill or suffer any serious break down to send me into ICU. I ask all and sundry to disregard this hollow speculation and confirm I’m as fit as I used to be. Thank you!” he added.
Kwaku Agyeman-Manu, Ghana’s Health Minister, and the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), Dr. Lydia Dsane-Selby, also tested positive for Covid-19.
