The Volta River Authority (VRA) has urged all prents to remain calm and has assured that, testing is ongoing andits health professionals are adequately equipped to handle COVID-19 cases at the Akosombo International School.

In a statement issued by the Corporate Affairs and External Relations Unit of the Authority today, February 5, it averred that, following the reopening of schools, COVID-19 screening has been ongoing for staff and students.

The Authority further stated that, all those who have tested positive so far were stable and without symptoms but are in isolation for further management and treatment by VRA Hospital Staff.

The VRA disclosed that, parents of students were duly informed and urged staff and students to continue with strict adherence to all COVID-19 safety protocols.

Read Full Statement Below:

This comes on the back of a total of forty-two students having tested positive for covid-19 at Akosombo International School in the Asuogyaman District of the Eastern region. This was after results of mass testing of students, teaching and non-teaching staff in the school were given out.

In light of this, the Executive Director of the National Schools Inspectorate Authority (NaSIA), Dr Haggar Hilda Ampadu has said the COVID-19 outbreak in private schools is being assessed by some of its inspectors.

Dr Ampadu disclosed that, an inspection team has been sent to Akosombo to assess the situation after the news broke out of the students of AIS testing positive for COVID-19.

Also, Dr Haggar Hilda Ampadu warned that, schools found in violation of the safety protocols will be shutdown. According to Dr Ampadu, NaSIA is mandated to ensure a safe environment for students in Ghana amidst the pandemic and will not hesitate to close down a school if need be.

“Should we receive a call that says children are being endangered, we will deploy a team there right on the spot. If we have to close the school down, which we have done in the past, we will close the school down to ensure the safety of our learners and put the right protocols in place. So, we do not spare proprietors who just violate and put children at risk.”

To buttress her statement, Dr Ampadu referred to an instance where the Authority closed down a school because a proprietor didn’t want to do the right thing and the police had to go and close the gate so that no one would be allowed into the school.

To help prevent the spread of COVID-19, the Ghana Education Service (GES), ahead of the reopening of schools issued guidelines to provide concrete steps for safe operations through prevention, early detection and control of COVID-19 in schools and other educational facilities.

The Service said the goal of the guidelines was to ensure that learners, teaching and non-teaching staff were safe in school and charged schools to enforce regular handwashing with soap under running water, use alcohol-based hand sanitiser and regularly disinfect and clean school surfaces such as door handles, tables and chairs.

It also urged them to enforce the wearing of face masks and ensure social distancing during class sessions and social events.