The Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta has expressed strong optimism Ghana will reinforce its identity as a nation that cares, after, the coronavirus pandemic is solved.

The Minister made the remarks when he presented before parliament the poverty alleviation programme today [Wednesday].

Mr Speaker, at the end of this trauma and pandemic, we should have reinforced our identity as a nation that cares, a nation that visits the fatherless, widows and protects the poor and vulnerable. That is our most sacred duty and responsibility; beyond the cold calculus of the economics.

The Minister said these are extraordinary times and we must respond with a deep sense of social justice so that our very humanity is not compromised.

The policy document on the Coronavirus Alleviation Programme (CAP), seeking approval to spend ¢1.2 billion.

According to Ken Ofori Atta, GH¢280 million will go into food packages and hotmeals while GH¢40 million to the National Buffer Stock Company. An additional GH¢200 million will be used to cater for bills on water and sanitation, GH¢241 will cover tax waiver for health personnel.

He further explained that the said GH¢80 million will be spent on the allowance for health staff, GH¢2 million will be used to cover transportation for health workers GH¢600 million will be disbursed as soft loans to businesses.



The Minister ended his submission with a prayer saying: "Mr Speaker, these are extraordinary times and we must respond with a deep sense of social justice so that our very humanity is not compromised. Mr Speaker, permit me to end with Parliament’s own prayer, God, grant us a vision of our country, a country of righteousness, inspire and strengthen our people that they may give time, thought and sacrifice to speed the day of the coming beauty of Ghana Beyond Aid and Africa, may all of us humble ourselves in prayer and gratitude for the Lord’s sacrifice on this coming good and Holy Friday.”

Update on Coronavirus

As at 7th April 2020, 23:30 hr, a total of 313 cases of COVID-19 with six (6) deaths have been recorded.

The regional distribution of the cases are as follows: Greater Accra Region has most cases (274) followed by the Ashanti Region (25), Northern Region (10), Upper West Region (1), Eastern Region (1), Upper East Region (1) and Central Region (1).

A total of 161 cases were reported from the routine surveillance, 37 from enhanced surveillance activities and those from travellers under mandatory quarantine in both Accra and Tamale are 115.

The period for mandatory quarantine for travellers who arrived 21-22 March 2020 has ended. In all, a total 1,030 travellers were quarantined during the period. Out of these, 79 (7.7%) were positive during the initial testing whilst 951 were negative.

Twenty-six (26) among those that were initially negative were found to have converted to be positive at the exit screening, bringing to a total of 105 which constitutes 10.2% among the travellers that were quarantined.

With regards to enhanced contact tracing and testing, as at 7th April 2020, a total of 11,016 samples from contacts have been processed and 37 (0.34%) have been confirmed positive for COVID-19.