President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and his Vice, Dr. Mahammudu Bawumia will on the morning of Monday, March 1, be the first to publicly receive the first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.

They will take it together with their spouses, First Lady Rebecca Akufo-Addo and Second Lady Samira Bawumia.

This is to boost public confidence in the safety and efficacy of the AstraZeneca vaccine that has been approved for use to slow the spread of the virus in Ghana.

During his 24th COVID-19 address to Ghanaians on Sunday, February 28, President Akufo-Addo noted that the vaccination will take place at two separate health facilities for both families.

“As your President, I want to assure you that the vaccine is safe. That is why tomorrow, on Monday, 1st March, ahead of the commencement of the vaccination programme on Tuesday, 2nd March, my wife the First Lady, the Vice President, his wife the Second Lady, and I will take the vaccine publicly at two health facilities in Accra,” Nana Addo indicated.

On Tuesday, March 2, other key public officials including the Speaker and Members of Parliament, the Chief Justice and Justices of the Superior Courts of Judicature, Chairperson and Members of the Council of State, the Chief of Staff and senior officials at the Office of the President take the jab publicly.

The rest are prominent personalities like some Eminent Clergy, the National Chief Imam, the Asantehene, the Ga Mantse, and some media practitioners.

President Akufo-Addo said, “I encourage faith-based groups, civil society, media and all Ghanaians to support the public education campaign associated with the exercise.”