The Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA) has announced the suspension of “all Port tours by schools and organisations with immediate effect.”

The Authority also says it is liaising with shipping agents to identify all high-risk vessels that may be coming into the country, for the necessary precautionary action to be taken.

The decision contained in a statement signed by the General Manager, Marketing and Corporate Affairs, Mrs Esther Gyebi-Donkor, forms part of the measure to curb the spread of the coronavirus pandemic (COVD-19).

Already, the Authority, in consultation with agents of cruise vessels has advised the postponement of all cruise ships scheduled to take berth at the Ports of Tema and Takoradi respectively and assures the general public that all other high risk vessels will be treated with the same urgency, the statement indicated.

“The Port Authority would also like to take this opportunity to inform all prospective students who wish to undertake their internship with the Port Authority that, this window is suspended until further notice and advises students to avoid coming to the offices seeking such opportunities for health and safety reasons.”

Meanwhile, visits to patients admitted to GPHA operated Health facilities in Tema and Takoradi, will be strictly regulated while family members and loved ones have been urged to bear with the medical teams.

The release further assured that there is no immediate threat to the Port community but this action has been taken out of the abundance of caution and part of the collective effort as a nation to beat the virus and safeguard the health of stakeholders and the general public.

Latest figures

Available statistics posted by Worldometer, an international research team, indicates at least, 218,220 persons worldwide are currently living with the disease as of March 18.

Out of the number, some 8,919 have died while 84,383 have recovered from it.

Ghana has so far confirmed seven cases, all of which were imported according to government officials.

The country has not recorded any deaths so far as health officials say all cases are seeing some positive improvements.