The Tema Regional Police Command has arrested 105 persons who were seen walking around without a face mask.

This follows a directive issued by the President to the Inspector General of Police (IGP) to direct officers of the Ghana Police Service to ensure the rigorous enforcement of the law on mask-wearing at all public places.

In his latest address to the nation, President Akufo-Addo had explained that based on detailed investigations, he has arrived at the conclusion that “apart from arriving passengers at our airport who tested positive, the surge in Covid-19 cases is due to people not wearing masks at public gatherings, parties, weddings, end of year office programs, family get-togethers and funerals."

He also directed the Ghana Police Service to ensure that all nightclubs, pubs, cinemas, and beaches that break the law of mask-wearing are closed.

But speaking to the media after the arrests were made, the Acting Public Relations Officer of the Tema Regional Police Command, Chief Inspector Stella Dede Dzakpasu said out of the number, nine were women while 96 were men all within the age range of 17 to 64 years.

She said the arrests were carried out in a four-hour operation by the police on Wednesday, January 20, 2021 around Tema Community 1.

"Out of the total number, 22 of them had no masks at all while 83 had the masks in their possession but woefully refused to wear them. Some of the suspects called friends and relatives to bring them masks while under police custody", she said.

Meanwhile, Regulatory Agencies have been authorized by the President to undertake random checks to ensure that people and places conform to the Covid-19 rules.

Facilities and institutions that flout these directives will be immediately prohibited and sanctioned.

“Should any facility or institution fail to comply with these directives, its activities will be immediately prohibited, and appropriate sanctions applied,” President Akufo-Addo said.

Furthermore, he warned Ghanaians that persons arrested by security agencies on the basis of not wearing face masks will be dealt with strictly in accordance with the law.

“It is important that I remind all Ghanaians that severe punishments exist on our statute books for persons breaking the law on the mandatory wearing of masks.”