The National Youth Authority (NYA) is resourcing slum dwellers in the Eastern Region, to take up the campaign against the spread of coronavirus pandemic.

The slum dwellers, made up mostly of the youth, have been encouraged to educate their peers about the need to adhere to protocols and government directives aimed at combating the pandemic, which has claimed thousands of lives across the world.

Currently, Ghana’s Covid-19 cases have hit 1,671. According to the Ghana Health Service, the country has also recorded 188 recoveries and 16 deaths.

Although Greater Accra remains Ghana’s epicentre with 1,433 cases, the Eastern region has the third highest with 57, right after the Ashanti region which has 84 confirmed cases.

The Eastern Regional Director of the National Youth Authority, Marian Mansa Mina, while expressing optimism about the impact of the public education said, the authority will intensify the program until the country wins the fight against Covid-19.

“It is obvious that when it comes to the NYA, our stakeholders are the youth, and because of this pandemic, they are now home. Schools have also closed and people are staying home to protect themselves so why not use the youth to spread the campaign?

"Currently, so many corporate organisations are helping and we believe the youth can help too, that is why the NYA has decided to resource them. This is a voluntary exercise and no one will be paid. We are teaching them about the virus, so they can go out and teach others," she said.

All the youth volunteers, according to the Regional Director, will spend twenty-one days in targeted communities as part of efforts to send the message to the doorsteps of people.

“This is a 21-day program. The education will be done four times a day and concentration is going to be at the slums. This is mainly because of the lifestyle of the people.

"We are also confident that when the people see familiar faces explaining the dangers of this pandemic and how to fight it, they will be more willing to follow laid down protocols and directives."