The District Chief Executive (DCE) for Ellembelle District in the Western Region, Mr. Kwasi Bonzoh has debunked reports circulating on social media that his District has recorded confirmed cases of Coronavirus.

On Sunday, April 12, 2020, Ghana Health Service (GHS) released a statement that the country has recorded 566 confirmed cases of Coronavirus.

According to the statement, Western Region is among one of the several Regions that have recorded Coronavirus, adding that Western Region has recorded one case out of the 566 confirmed cases.

However, immediately the statement came out, some people took to the social media to circulate that the confirmed case in the Western Region was from Ellembelle District.

This circulation has scared the residents in the Ellembelle District.

But in a sharp response issued and signed by the DCE, copied to GhanaWeb's Western Regional Correspondent Daniel Kaku, he stated that as of Sunday, April 12, the District has not recorded any case of Coronavirus.

He said the information was completely false and urged the general public to rubbish it.

"We wish to state that the said information is completely false and should be disregarded by the general public", he stressed.

"We also wish to assure the general public that the Ellembelle District Public Health Emergency Committee is working in close collaboration with all relevant stakeholders to ensure that the good people of Ellembelle are safe from the novel coronavirus disease", he added.

The DCE who is the Head of the Ellembelle District Public Health Emergency Committee, has therefore called on his residents to remain calm and abide by all the precautionary measures.

We therefore call on all residents of Ellembelle to remain calm and abide by all the directives issued by both the central government and the District Assembly to prevent and contain the spread of COVID-19 in Ellembelle in particular and Ghana in general.

"We therefore call on all residents of Ellembelle to remain calm and abide by all the directives issued by both the central government and the District Assembly to prevent and contain the spread of COVID-19 in Ellembelle in particular and Ghana in general", he said.

GhanaWeb's Western Regional Correspondent can confirm that the Western Region's case is found in Shama District.

Speaking to the District Chief Executive (DCE) for the area, Hon. Joseph Amoah to confirm the news, he said admitted that the District Health Directorate has informed him that the District has recorded one case of Coronavirus.

According to GhanaWeb's Western Regional Correspondent, the patient is an expatriate but the Ministry of Health is yet to meet the media to give details of the patient.

Ghana has far, recorded 566 confirmed cases with 8 deaths of Coronavirus.

The latest Region to record a case is Western Region.

The Greater Accra remains Ghana’s epicenter of the outbreak with 452 cases.

Below is the full statement

Ellembelle DCE Kwasi Bonzoh writes

Our attention has been drawn to rumours circulating on social media about a confirmed case of COVID -19 in Ellembelle District as of Sunday, April 12, 2020.

We wish to state that the said information is completely false and should be disregarded by the general public.

We also wish to assure the general public that the Ellembelle District Public Health Emergency Committee is working in close collaboration with all relevant stakeholders to ensure that the good people of Ellembelle are safe from the novel coronavirus disease.

We are urging our residents to stay safe by staying at home, strictly observing social distancing guidelines and frequently wash their hands under running water with soap for at least 40 seconds, among others preventive measures.

God bless Ellembelle and God bless our homeland Ghana.