The Goaso District Police Command, with support from the Ahafo Regional Operations and Divisional patrol teams, has arrested 29 suspects for failure to wear facemasks as directed by President Akufo-Addo.

Twenty-three men and 5 women were among those arrested on Monday morning.

The Covid-19 protocols enforcement exercise on Monday dubbed “Operation wear your facemask” took place at various streets in the Goaso township, in the Asunafo North District. 

Residents in the Ahafo Region, like other parts of the country, continue to flout safety measures as outlined by the government and the Ghana Health Services. And the exercise was aimed at enforcing the directives.

Few hours after the arrests, the Police arraigned the suspects before the Goaso District Court, presided over by Her Worship Ms. Magdalene Thompson.

Twenty-seven out of the 29 pleaded guilty to the charge and were fined 30 penalty units, which are equivalent to GHS360 each, and in default, will face a 30-day imprisonment each.

According to the Ahafo Police Public relations Officer, ASP Kwami Loh, only 21 of those arraigned before the court could pay their fines and were subsequently released, while the remaining 6 were detained in the Police cells to be sent to the Sunyani prisons to start their prison terms on Tuesday.

He said one of the accused, Comfort Adobea, was bonded to be of good behavior for three months after she pleaded guilty, with an explanation, but the court will sentence her to three weeks imprisonment in default. 

Another suspect, Naba Sigri, a Juvenile, was, however, referred to the Juvenile court for sentencing.

The Goaso Municipality, is however peaceful after the exercise, with residents going about their lawful activities mindful of the directives to wear nose masks to halt the spread of the Covid-19 virus.

The Ahafo Region so far has recorded 666 cases of the covid-19 with an active tally of 23.