IMANI President Franklin Cudjoe has urged the Education Minister to cancel the academic calendar for the year following the rise in coronavirus fatalities.

The outspoken IMANI boss in a Facebook post said it is prudent to close schools now.

”I think it’s now not a good decision to open schools. I strongly urge the Minister of Education to recall all students and cancel the academic year”.

His remark comes after the sudden death of the Forestry Commission Boss, Kweku Owusu Afriyie, alias Sir John.

Reports say the former NPP General Secretary succumbed to the deadly covid-19 virus at the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital.

Meanwhile, the campaign manager for the New Patriotic Party for the 2020 elections Peter Mac Manu and Deputy Trade Minister Carlos Ahenkorah are also on admission at the Intensive Care Unit of the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital in Accra after contracting COVID-19.

Education and Regional Integration ministers, Mathew Opoku Prempeh and Dan Botwe are awaiting their results at the UGMC after running tests for the virus. Health Minister Kwaku Agyeman Manu is recuperating after being hit by the virus.

Ghana’s COVID-19 deaths in Ghana now stand at 117 with 4,467 active cases and 13,550 recoveries, the Ghana Health Service has announced on its website.