Correspondence from Western Region

The opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) parliamentary candidate for Kwesimintim Constituency, Lawyer Philip Fiifi Buckman has appealed to government to establish a COVID-19 Testing Site in Western Region to speed up the process of testing for Coronavirus.

His appeal follows the first confirmed case of Coronavirus recorded by the Region on Sunday, April 13, 2020.

In an interview with GhanaWeb's Western Regional Correspondent Daniel Kaku, the NDC 2020 Parliamentary Candidate seized the opportunity to commend the Western Regional Minister for showing good leadership to expeditiously come out with information in respect of the reported case on Sunday evening in the region to avoid unnecessary speculations which had the tendency of putting fear in the residents of the area.

He suggested to the government through the Western Regional Minister to put a number of measures in place if there was going to be a lockdown in the Region.

"Kudos for showing leadership. Your Excellency, I would want to respectfully bring to your attention some important preemptive measure you can put in place with the various heads of institutions that matter at this crucial moment especially as due to the rising numbers in the reported cases, we might have a lockdown", he stated.

In this regard, Lawyer Philip Fiifi Buckman called on the Regional Minister to use his high office to lobby for the establishment of COVID-19 Testing Site at the Reference Lab in Effia-Nkwanta Hospital.

"As the WHO is recommending countries to test as many suspects as possible, I want to recommend to you to use your good office to push for the setting up of COVID-19 Testing Site at the Reference Lab in Effia-Nkwanta hospital to speed up the process of testing", he tasked the Regional Minister.



He also urged the Regional Minister to adequately resource the Information Service Department and the National Commission for Civic Education to intensify education and awareness throughout the region in respect of the laid down directives to be observed in respect of the prevention of infection.

The NDC candidate continued, "Liaise with the Regional Health Directorate to identify and prepare possible Isolation Centers outside hospitals to prevent inadvertent infection of other non-infected patients and frontline health workers".

Lawyer Buckman urged the Regional Minister to include private institutions who are willing and able to donate for the procurement of the necessary Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs) to Frontline Health Workers to fight against the deadly Coronavirus pandemic.

He expressed optimistim that the deadly Coronavirus pandemic would be a thing of the past. "We shall definitely overcome this. This too shall pass for our God still reigns. Together, we can".

Ghana has so far recorded 641 confirmed cases of Coronavirus with 8 deaths.