The Ghana Medical Association (GMA) has urged the National Identification Authority (NIA) to stop the ongoing mass registration exercise for Ghana Card in the Eastern Region, saying it defeated the President's directives on mass gathering as part of the measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
A press statement jointly signed, and issued, on Wednesday, by Dr Frank Ankobea, President of the GMA and Dr Justice Yankson, General Secretary of the GMA, respectively, said the request was to ensure public safety.
"It is the considered view of the GMA that this mass registration activities by the NIA, if allowed to continue, could create a fertile ground for the potential spread of COVID-19, endangering the lives of the staff of the NIA, the communities involved and the entire nation in the process.
“This will undoubtedly be fatal for the country," it said.
The GMA also urged the Government to begin the enforcement
of self-isolation of all Ghanaian citizens and residents returning to Ghana from countries with a high burden of the Coronavirus in accordance with the self-isolation guidelines, as issued by the Ghana Health Service (GHS).
It also called on all Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) and Corporate Ghana to complement the Government's efforts at combating the pandemic.
Ghana has seven confirmed COVID-19 cases with its contract tracing efforts identifying 381 persons.
Source: GNA
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NIA registration is an essential one hence it must continue. In the UK and other countries all essential services and democratic activities are on-going. US has a primaries. The measures taken by Nana Addo is enough to stem the spread of virus. Ghana cannot afford to shut the economy down just because of 9 cases. GMA suggestion is knee-jeck reaction and no osense
With the above submission, should we allow churches to operate as well? GMA is damn right!
GMA SUGGESTION TO SUSPEND NIA REGISTRATION CANNOT BE ENTIRELY RIGHT. WE CANNOT SHUTDOWN THE NATION. THE GATHERING OF REGISTRANTS AT NIA POST CANNOT BE COMPARED IN ANYWAY OF PEOPLE WHO GATHER TOGETHER IN THE MARKETS, THE MALLS AND OTHER PLACES. GMA CAN OFFER A PROPER ADVICE TO REGISTRANTS AND THE STAFF OF NIA TO IMPROVE THE CONDITIONS OF THEIR ENVIRONMENT THEY WORK TO AVOID OR REDUCE THE RISK. ONE MY ARGUE WHY THEN THE BAN ON CHURCHES, MOSQUES AND FUNERALS. CHURCHES ND MOSQUES OPERATES IN DIFFERENT ENVIRONMENT. THE CONGREGANTS ALMOST ALWAYS GATHERED IN AN ENCLOSED PLACE. AGAIN CHURCH AND MOSQUE SERVICES INVOLVE SINGING, SHOUTING, OR EXCLAMATIONS THAT EASILY BRINGS OUT THE VIRUS FROM AN AFFECTED PERSON TO INFECT ANOTHER. WE ALSO KNOW THAT NORMAL FUNERAL GATHERING OF GHANAIANS INVOLVE MANY PEOPLE GATHERED WITH ALL MANNER OF ENGAGEMENTS AND GREETINGS. NIA REGISTRATION DOES NOT INVOLVE ANYTHING LIKE THAT. IF GMA WOULD LIKE THE NIA REGISTRATION TO STOP THEN THEY WOULD AS WELL EXPECT PARLIAMENT, THE COURTS, THE BANKS AND MANY OTHER ORGANIZATIONS INCLUDING THE HOSPITALS TO CLOSE DOWN. WE MAY AS WELL CANCEL ELECTIONS IN DECEMBER 2020 FOR WE DO NOT KNOW WHEN THE PANDEMIC WILL END. AMERICA IS MORE HIT THAN GHANA AND YET THEY HAVE JUST HAD THEIR PRIMARIES FOR THE DEMOCRATS WHICH WAS VERY MUCH ENGAGING THAN NIA REGISTRATION. GMA MUST REVIEW THEIR NOTES AS MUCH AS WE REVERE THEM FOR THEIR PROFESSION OPINIONS.
So GMA, must we suspend all markets as well? how is it possible that Doctors met and this is the advise you could give. i thought they said the most brilliant do medicine, i'm beginning to doubt