President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has said that the government is engaging the domestic pharmaceutical companies to assist in producing the logistics required to prevent and combat the virus as is possible under the circumstances.

Addressing the nation on the outbreak of the coronavirus, on Wednesday March 11, Mr Akufo-Ado said: “Indeed, we must take advantage of this crisis to strengthen our domestic productive capacity, so we can advance our self-reliance, and reduce our dependence on foreign imports. Necessity, they say, is the mother of invention.”

“We have begun to engage the domestic pharmaceutical companies to assist in producing the logistics required to prevent and combat the virus as is possible under the circumstances.”

The president has also urged all Ghanaians who intend to travel out of Ghana for international programmes to cancel their trips and resort to technology for video-conferences.

This, he said, is one of the measures to prevent the coronavirus infection from entering Ghana.

“I have, as of yesterday, ordered a suspension of all international travels by public officials. Except for critical assignments, which will have to be authorized by the Chief of Staff at the Office of the President, all public officials are to remain within the jurisdiction, until further notice.

“Video-conferencing facilities and other technological tools are to be utilised, whenever possible, for international engagements.”

Touching on the production of the logistics required to prevent and combat the virus, the President revealed that Government has begun to engage with the domestic pharmaceutical industry to assist in this regard.

“We have begun to engage the domestic pharmaceutical companies to assist in producing the logistics required to prevent and combat the virus as is possible under the circumstances.

“Indeed, we must take advantage of this crisis to strengthen our domestic productive capacity, so we can advance our self-reliance, and reduce our dependence on foreign imports. Necessity, they say, is the mother of invention,” he added.

President Akufo-Addo extended his appreciation to the World Health Organisation (WHO), the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund, and friends of Ghana for the assistance they have, so far, provided, and for the pledges made in support of Ghana’s fight against the virus.

“We shall continue to work with them to defeat the spread of the virus. I am confident that, together, with all hands-on deck, we will be successful in weathering this storm,” he added.