The President of Ghana, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo says the government of Ghana will have no option than to move out all its citizens from Wuhan if the spread of coronavirus becomes increasingly necessary.

There has been an increase in new cases of the pandemic, with 1,109 new confirmed infections, compared with 394 the day before, bringing the total number of cases in mainland China to 74,685. The death toll has now reached 2,236, with 118 new deaths as of the end of Thursday.

According to the president during the State of the Nation's Address (SONA) to Parliament on Thursday, February 20, 2020, measures have already been put in place in the country to receive the foreign students in a way that will not amass fear and panic among the entire population.

“China is unfortunately battling an outbreak of the deadly Covid-19 virus. We sympathize with the people of China at this time of great trouble. I have written to the President Xi Jinping to convey to the government and the people of China the solidarity and sympathy of the compassionate people of Ghana.

“We know that no amount of logistics will make up for the extreme stress and trauma that these young people are going through, and I entreat members of this Honorable House to set an example by helping to pour oil over troubled waters, instead of instigating tension and spreading fear and panic among the young people.

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“We have put in place measures to ensure that their evacuation back into Ghana, if it happens, does not lead to the dissemination of fear and panic amongst the general population.

“The government is in constant touch with experts on the subject, who advise that the basic principle of public health is to confine the disease to the area of its origin, but we have not ruled out the option of evacuating the students from Wuhan, if that becomes necessary,” he said.