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Ghana has stepped up efforts to ensure that its citizens as much as possible do not contract the coronavirus that has broken out in China and is now spreading fast.

While Ghana’s mission in China has advised Ghanaians planning to travel to the Asian country to consider postponing their trips if possible, the Ministry of Health (MoH) has also extended its surveillance exercise at the airport initially for travellers from China to now include everyone coming in from any part of the world.

Ghana’s Deputy Ambassador to China, Dr Charles Dwamena, in an interview, said the health alert advice had become necessary following the rise in the death toll of people who had contracted the disease, as well as the measures being taken by authorities in China as they moved to contain and eventually resolve the disease which was spreading.

Meanwhile, the Ghana Union of Traders Association (GUTA) says though the situation calls for concern and caution, it will not have an immediate impact on trading between Ghana and China.

The President of GUTA, Dr Joseph Obeng, in an interview with the Daily Graphic, said: “Due to modernization, importers of Chinese products often make their orders on the Internet and get them shipped to the port without them going to China because most of the major importers have long-standing relationships with the manufacturers.”

Ghana’s Mission

In a telephone conversation, Dr Dwamena said given the fact that most people in many cities in China were being asked to stay indoors to avoid contracting the virus, it was better for Ghanaian travelers to the country to be on the safer side by suspending their trip until it was safe to visit.

“If you can, suspend your intended travel to China, please do so as a safe precautionary measure, however, if it is urgent that you visit China, then adhere to all the safety measures to ensure that you do not fall victim.

“Also, all Ghanaians in China are encouraged to comply with the directive to stay indoors so they can be safe from contracting the disease which is gradually becoming an epidemic,” he advised.

The Deputy Ambassador indicated that there were about 300 Ghanaians living in the city of Wuhan where the virus was first found but “so far, no Ghanaian has been reported to have contracted the virus.”

Twelve other cities close to Wuhan in central China's Hubei province have also been locked out.