Kwaku Agyeman-Manu, the Minister of Health has decried lack of adherence to practices aimed at stopping the spread of the new coronavirus among Ghanaians.

He said the non-adherence spells doom for the fight against the virus and the defiance would not be tolerated further.

Speaking at a press conference in Accra on Thursday, Mr Agyeman-Manu specifically highlighted non-wearing of masks.

“I’ve been thinking what else we can do to ensure strict compliance with these basic guidelines,” he said, adding that police would soon be arresting recalcitrants.

“If you are jailed three months for not wearing a mask in public you would take a cue from that,” he said.

Alternative sentencing

Journalists at the press conference quizzed why offenders are jailed and not given community service.

Responding to this, the Information Minister Kojo Oppong Nkrumah said there is no law on such mode of sentencing.

He said cabinet is currently considering this and would soon take a decision on the matter.

Meanwhile, Mr. Agyeman-Manu also cautioned against gathering which remain banned.

He said this is also not the time to visit people, urging Ghanaians to stay at home.

"There is a lot to occupy you such as television, laptops and games," he said.

The number of cases recorded in the country has also gone up since the previous briefing on Tuesday.

The number now stands at 5,530 with 674 recoveries and 24 fatalities.