A Ghanaian PhD student studying in China has chastised the Ghana Health Service, Ministry of Health and government for failing to apply prudent measures in the face of the recent Coronavirus outbreak.

Michael Alhassan, who arrived at the Kotoka International Airport (KIA) on Sunday from China, expressed frustration about the lackadaisical attitude of security personnel towards people arriving from the Asian country, the known source of the virus.

“I did not go through any serious protocol for a country looking to protect its citizenry...the normal protocol is what we all went through.

“The only sensor we went through was the one before entering customs, the heat sensor and even that, the people behind it were not serious, they were chatting. I was very sad. I think our government should sit up and do something.”

The Ministry of Health since the outbreak was recorded has issued a public alert on the virus which is believed to be airborne and transmitted from humans to humans.

The Ministry also said surveillance and quarantine centres across the country’s borders, especially the Kotoka International Airport were being beefed up.

But disputing the statement from the Ministry, Mr Alhassan insisted there were no surveillance at the airport as touted by the Ministry.

“Nobody asked us any question. We just filled forms for the Immigration people and that was it. We also went through the normal checks that everyone was being subjected to, so I won’t be surprised if we record some of this virus here in Ghana,” he said.

Touching on happenings back in China, the PhD student said they have been forced to lock themselves in their rooms and share limited resources while waiting on government to come to their aid.

“People are living in fear because of several rumours making the rounds and the stories we are hearing are very scary and the effort of the Ghanaian ambassador to china to help us is not good. Students are locked up in their room for more than one week, shops closed, no place to go and people are now sharing food with their friends.

“If no help is going to these students, then when the situation gets worse how will they survive? Other countries are making plans for evacuation but we hear of none from Ghana. The Ambassador reached out once and that was it. Nothing has been communicated to the students and there is general fear,” he said.

But speaking on the Super Morning Show on Joy FM, the Head of Disease Surveillance, Dr Franklin Asiedu Bekoe said the allegations by Micheal Alhassan would have to be investigated.

“I think we have to verify what is being said because we have forms there that are being filled and we are following up on the situation. We have measures in place over there and the surveillance is seriously ongoing.

“On Friday we went for the forms that have already been filled specifically for the GHS and about the virus.”