The Ghana Medical Association (GMA) has commended government for refusing to host the 2015 African Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Ghana after Morocco pulled out.

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) asked Ghana to consider replacing Morocco after that country pulled out because of the Ebola outbreak in West Africa.

CAF’s request to Ghana caused a public outrage with the GMA stating that government will import the deadly disease to the country should it host the tournament. Government subsequently declined to host the AFCON.

Speaking at an Ebola preparedness platform organized by TV3, the President of the GMA, Dr Kwabena Opoku Adusei said: “I want to commend government for listening and saying no to AFCON 2015. It’s a good thing that government did because at least, they listened to us.”

He however called on the government to put in place all necessary measures to get health officials ready for a possible outbreak.

According to the GMA president, it is imperative for government to believe that “Ebola may come to Ghana; they must believe the statistics and we cannot continue to be lucky.”

He stressed that although religious bodies are praying against the Ebola disease, “prayers alone may not help and we want government to be educating members of the general public frequently.”

Dr. Opoku Adusei questioned why state owned newspapers fail to publish facts on Ebola.