Ghana recorded its first two cases of the deadly novel coronavirus after it hit the country's shores in March 2020.
The active cases of people testing positive since then has surged.
These worrying figures triggered President Akufo-Addo to impose a rigorous restriction in other to curb the spread of covid-19.
The ban on social gathering, a partial lockdown, closure of the borders and schools, were some of the measures government took to combat the spread of the virus.
These restrictions had a great toll on the livelihood of Ghanaians.
Businesses where closed, education was put on hold, streets were empty, basically, everything came to a standstill.
In a Business Tracker Survey conducted by the Ghana Statistical Service (GSS), in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the World Bank, it revealed that the pandemic has had a negative impact on Ghanaian businesses.
The survey disclosed that Covid-19 has not only claimed lives but has also had considerable impacts on businesses, forcing many firms to cut costs by reducing staff hours, cutting wages, and in some cases laying off workers.
About 42,000 employees were laid off during the country’s Covid-19 partial lockdown and 770,000 workers (25.7% of the total workforce), had their wages reduced.
An estimated average of ¢115.2 million sales was decreased and at a point, employers adapted to the shift system, encouraging workers to work from home.
The pandemic also led to a reduction in the working hours for close to 700,000 workers.
With the new normal, 244,000 firms have adjusted to digital solutions.
President Akufo-Addo in his 23rd address to the nation on measures to combat Covid-19 encouraged employers to make use of virtual platforms for business while employing the shift systems.
"All workplaces, public and private, must employ a shift-system for workers, in addition to the use of virtual platforms for business or work. Conferences and workshopscan take place with all the appropriate protocols.
"However, I encourage the use of virtual platforms for such engagements," he said.
Latest Stories
-
Pensions: The last time government paid Tier-2 funds was in June 2023 – Angel Carbonu
30 seconds -
Submit audited statements by May or face sanctions – Akufo-Addo warns heads of SOEs
13 mins -
Samuel Inkoom’s SIFMA hold successful football tournament
20 mins -
Propak propelling growth of Ghana’s manufacturing industry for exports
22 mins -
Academic curriculum must reflect industry needs – Stanbic Bank CEO
28 mins -
Arnold Schwarzenegger says Sylvester Stallone rivalry helped his career
37 mins -
CSOs challenge KPMG’s claim linking rise in petroleum consumption to SML
43 mins -
Latif Abubakar partners Italian Embassy to stage ‘The Licence’
51 mins -
Decision to pay presidential spouses unconstitutional – Supreme Court
1 hour -
Government asked to address issues of financial mismanagement within SOEs
1 hour -
Full text: Akufo-Addo acts on KPMG’s findings and recommendations on transactions between GRA and SML
1 hour -
UEFA U-17: Ghana’s Black Starlets to play Russia in opener
1 hour -
Mrs. Gertrude Pabi Wiredu
1 hour -
Veteran Nigerian actor Zulu Adigwe is dead
1 hour -
Pioneering Oral Health: Pepsodent’s 2023 Teledentistry initiative and its path forward
2 hours