A Public Health analyst, Samuel Arthur has criticised the Health Minister over his outburst on the wearing of mask among Ghanaians in the wake of COVID-19.

The Health Minister Kwaku Agyemang Manu while addressing a news conference on Tuesday lamented the recalcitrance of Ghanaians in nose mask-wearing which he says could lead to further spread of the virus.

“There are those of us who don’t have [money]. We need some [of the masks] to wear so that the President will know we are listening to his advise. The idea of ‘I don’t have money to buy’ should not be an excuse for anybody. We see people in the middle of the street begging for money. So that money you are begging for, use some to buy the mask. Some cannot be worn on several occasions.

“It is not by individual choice to adhere to the COVID-19 safety protocols, it is in our collective interest. If you are not sick, stay at home, if you don’t have anything important to do outside, stay at home,” he said.

However, reacting to the comments, Mr. Arthur who is also the Chairman of none state actors in health told Morning Starr host Francis Abban that the minister was wrong with his outburst.

“I can appreciate his worry but if this is the thinking of the minister then he has missed the point. ..He has to be a bit cautious about his utterances. The education has not gone down well that is why you see people behaving the way they are. Education and proper education is the only way out for people to appreciate the situation on the ground.

“Nobody should blame anybody for what is happening, to say that some people are recalcitrant is for me very pedestrian. All of us should be commended for the peaking that he is reporting today”.

COVID-19 cases in Ghana have seen a staggering jump from 2,169 to 2,719 within two days.

This means 550 more cases have been recorded since Saturday when the last update was made.

According to the Ghana Health Service, the Greater Accra region still leads with over 2000 cases.



Below is the regional breakdown

Greater Accra Region – 2,332, Ashanti Region – 124, Eastern Region – 94, Central Region – 38, Volta Region – 30, Oti Region – 23, Western Region – 21, Upper West Region – 19, Upper East Region – 19, Northern Region – 13.

Meanwhile, the Korle Bu Covid-19 treatment centre has successfully treated and discharged all seven patients who were on admission there.