Bono Regional Minister, Evelyn Ama Kumi-Richardson, has directed the Dormaa West District Assembly to heighten surveillance at the various border towns in the area to stem the import of the Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) from neighbouring countries.

She said a 24-hour surveillance activity ought to be strengthened particularly at Yaakrom, KofiBadukrom and Frimpongkrom, communities along the Ghana Cote D’Ivoire borders, as the government stepped up measures to help control local transmission of the COVID-19 in the country.

The Regional Minister said the government had allocated GHC50,000 to the District Assembly to fight the COVID-19 and the Assembly authorities were expected to do much particularly at the border towns.

Interacting with Assembly members, security services and key staff of the Dormaa West District Assembly at Nkrankwanta on Tuesday, Mrs. Kumi-Richardson assured government was doing all things possible to contain the spread of the disease.

She emphasised Ghanaian residents along the various border towns in the area had high risk of contracting the disease and advised them to contribute their quota in ensuring that new cases of COVID-19 were not imported into the country through those unapproved routes.

Mrs. Kumi-Richardson told the Assembly to ensure the seven unapproved routes identified in the District were blocked and directed the security services to beef up security presence at those routes to check the influx of irregular migrants who could possibly spread the disease in the local communities.

Mr Ali Maige, the Member of Parliament for Dormaa West advised the people to bury their political differences and forge ahead in unity towards the fight of the COVID-19.

He indicated government directives on the COVID-19 was in the supreme interest of the nation and advised Ghanaians to comply.

Mr. Kennedy Ohene Agyei, the Dormaa West District Director of Health said 180 health officials and 25 community volunteers were trained to help manage the spread of the disease in the area and the Directorate had set aside two cubicles as isolation centres at the District Hospital at Nkrankwanta to manage suspected cases of the COVID-19.

Mrs. Mary Ameyaa, the Dormaa West District Chief Executive, commended the security services and the District Directorate of Health for their support in helping to prevent the spread of the COVID-19.