President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has ordered all schools and universities in the country to shut down, in government’s bid to stem the spread of coronavirus disease (Covid-19) in Ghana.

The directive is to take effect on Monday, March 16, 2020.

The President gave the order when he addressed the nation on Sunday.

“All Universities, Senior High Schools, and basic schools, i.e. public and private schools, will be closed Monday, 16th March, 2020, till further notice. The Ministry of Education, in collaboration with the Ministry of Communication, has been tasked to roll out distance learning programmes,” he said.

President Akufo-Addo added that, the directive excludes students who will be taking part in this year’s Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) and the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE). However, they will be allowed to attend school in adherence to strict “social distancing” and precautionary protocols. 

The government has also banned all public gatherings including conferences, workshops, funerals, festivals, political rallies, church activities and other related events as part of measures to stop the spread of coronavirus in the country.

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President Nana Akufo-Addo during the national address said the ban will be in force for the next four weeks.

“I have decided in the interest of public safety and the protection of our population to review the public gathering advisories earlier announced as follows. Firstly, all public gatherings including conferences, workshops, funerals, festivals, political rallies, sporting events and religious activities, such as services in churches and mosques, have been suspended for the next four (4) weeks. Private burials are permitted, but with limited numbers, not exceeding twenty-five (25) in attendance,” the President said.

The Ghana Health Service (GHS) in an earlier news briefing on Sunday, March 15, disclosed that, the country has recorded four more confirmed Covid-19 cases.

The four new cases, brings the total of confirmed Covid-19 cases in Ghana to six. 

The Director of Public Health- GHS, Doctor Badu Sarkodie disclosed that all the six Covid-19 patients are stable and receiving the required treatment.

He also advised all Ghanaians to ‘adhere to the preventive and precautionary measures” in wake of the outbreak in the country.