The Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, has activated a Covid-19 support system, with an initial one million Ghana Cedi fund.

The seed funding for the “Stay Home, Stay Alive” programme will be used to purchase food supplies and sanitary items for vulnerable communities in the traditional area.

Amid the gesture, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II wants residents of locked-down areas to strictly follow the measures in place to prevent spread of the virus.

Chief of Staff at the Manhyia Place, Kofi Badu, who spoke for the King says the Otumfuo is satisfied at the level of compliance with the lockdown so far.

The King was proud of the communities’ discipline in response to the imposed restrictions on movement. He wants their attitude to continue so that, “we can deal with the pandemic”.

He admonished residents against breach of the government’s directives.

The Ashanti Region has been declared one of Ghana’s epicentres of the coronavirus pandemic, having recorded some confirmed cases as well as two deaths.

Though, a number of people are reeling under the partial lockdown, the government insists that staying at home is in the interest of the people.

Manhyia Palace, which had earlier declared support for calls for the lockdown, hopes to use the relief program to lessen the plight of people.

The ‘Stay Home, Stay Alive’ programme will support vulnerable residents of affected parts of the Ashanti Region with food items and also sanitisers as well as soap for hand washing.