President Of The Republic of Ghana, Nana Akufo-Addo has extended the incentive package for health workers in the country to the end of the year.
He made this announcement during his 19th Address to update the nation on measures taken the spread of COVID-19 in Ghana where he revealed that, under this provision, health workers will not be required to pay income taxes for the month of October, November and December.
“I am happy to announce that the incentive package for health workers has been extended to the end of the year. Again, all frontline health workers as defined by the Ministry of Health will continue to receive their additional allowance of 50 percent of their basic salary for the month of October, November and December.”
The President first announced the three-month tax holiday for the health workers at the beginning of April 2020.
According to the President, the incentives form part of the government’s commitment to ensuring that health workers are supported as they deliver essential services to the populace especially amidst the outbreak of Coronavirus.
He said it was, in part, due to the immense dedication and hard work being exhibited by the healthcare workers, who continue to care for those affected by the virus, and for the sick in general.
He also intimated during his address that, government intends enhancing the measures of tracing, testing and treatment to mitigate the new threat of rising Coronavirus infections in the country.
President Akufo-Addo added that, government also plans to limit the spread of the virus by easing public gatherings, enhancing public education and information, and providing relief and support to individuals, families and businesses.
In a bid to enhance public education, the President said he had instructed the release of additional logistics, including vehicles, to the Ghana Health Service in order to help beef up contact tracing, and the supervision and monitoring of asymptomatic cases being managed from home.
The President said, the government will also employ the use of technology to augment our contact tracing efforts, as well as the supervision and monitoring of home care cases.
Giving a detailed account of the rate of infection in Ghana, the President indicated that the average number of cases recorded per day had increased from 25 new cases to 130 and as a result, Ghana’s COVID-19 case count now stands at 1,139.
Breaking the infections down, he revealed that, an analysis of the active case data showed that, the Greater Accra Region accounts for 75%, with Ashanti, Bono, Eastern and Western being responsible for 16% of active cases, eleven regions make up 4% of the cases, with arrivals at Kotoka International Airport responsible for the other 5%.
He further disclosed that, only two districts in the Greater Accra Region have not recorded COVID-19 cases.
President Akufo-Addo also expressed fears over the increasing active cases of COVID-19 in the country.
He said, what seems to be a second wave of the infections suggests the country appears to be letting its guards down by breaching the COVID-19 safety protocols and urged Ghanaians to collectivize efforts in order not to water down government’s enhanced measures to minimize the rate of the spread
“Our observation, however, is that the reduction in compliance with the preventive protocols accounts for the increases in infections. Fellow Ghanaians, it appears that we are letting our guards down. Now more than ever we have to adhere to mask-wearing, handwashing, use of sanitizers and social distancing protocols.”
