The Ghana Health Service (GHS) has responded to recent concerns raised by pressure group OccupyGhana on the management of Covid-19 in Ghana.

OccupyGhana in a statement on Tuesday expressed suspicion that the Service is under-reporting Ghana’s Covid-19 figures on cases, recoveries and deaths.

It said government appears to have decided to live with the virus but not made that clear to the large populace.

“If the government has decided to pursue a policy of ‘living with the virus,’ then the healthcare system and the population should be prepped for this,” it said in its conclusion.

“Let’s just remember that Sweden tried the method and has one the highest levels of deaths per million in the world.”

But the Service, in a statement issued by Director-General Dr Patrick Kuma-Aboagye, said it is “very unfair” on the part of the pressure group to impugn ill-intention to the figures released.

“We wish to state categorically that Ghana Health Service does not manipulate the data collated from the regions.

“The reporting on data including deaths and recoveries at the national level goes beyond just numbers and includes epidemiological and clinical states of the cases.

“It requires a bit more time to verify and validate.”

The pressure group also raised issues with President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo’s directive to allow final-year students to go back to school.

The Service responded: “We must emphasize that the health of Ghanaians is our utmost concern and as such, we will strive to ensure their safety at all times and make readily available Covid-19 related information.

“We are working closely with the Ministry of Education and Ghana Education Service in this regard to ensure that every school is appropriately linked to our district health facilities who will supervise to ensure that the social distancing; hand hygiene and wearing of nose masks protocols put in place for the schools to reopen are strictly enforced.”

The Service responded to issues regarding tests and laboratories, personal protective equipment (PPEs), bed space and critical care staff, among the issues raised by OccupyGhana.

It, however, said it takes the concerns in “good faith”.

“We are open to meet all stakeholders for further discussion and clarification.”