President Akufo-Addo at the 63rd Independence day celebration in Kumasi did not shake hands of dignitaries present at the event like usual.

His action follows an increase in coronavirus cases across some African countries.

President Akufo-Addo instead of shaking hands, bowed to each dignitary present including the Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II and Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago, Dr Keith Christopher Rowley.

President Akufo-Addo is not the only state official of a country avoiding handshakes.

Tanzania’s State House has shared a picture of President John Magufuli exchanging a foot greeting with opposition politician Maalim Seif Sharif Hamad, observing new measures by the health ministry to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.

Although the country has not recorded any case of coronavirus, people have been advised to avoid hugging, kissing and greeting people by hand to prevent the spread of the virus.

There have so far been 27 cases of the coronavirus on the continent; in Nigeria, South Africa, Algeria, Tunisia, Morocco and Egypt.

Ghana on Thursday morning recorded its second suspected case at the Korle Bu Teaching hospital.

Blood samples of the suspected coronavirus patient were sent to the Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research for testing but have since been confirmed to be negative.

Meanwhile, Former Presidents John Mahama and Jerry John Rawlings were missing at the national event that sought to celebrate Ghana's milestone since achieving independence on March 6, 1957.