It’s unethical to name government officials who have tested positive for coronavirus - GHS boss

The Director-General of the Ghana Health Service, Dr. Patrick Kuma-Aboagye has refused to make public naming of government officials who have tested positive for the deadly coronavirus outbreak in the country.

According to him, there is no need making public names of government officials who have contracted the novel Coronavirus in the country, this he said is unprofessional and unethical.

“As I mentioned, I cannot really ethically, tell you all these numbers and mention names and their status. It cannot be done. I’m sure there are media men who have also been exposed and we don’t have their numbers and names [in the public domain] but those who came out and did that voluntarily, that’s what we encourage. We are not going to be able to mention anybody’s name and there is no need”, he said.

Dr. Kuma-Aboagye disclosed this on Thursday, July 2, 2020, at a press briefing organized by the Ministry of Information to update Ghanaians on the country’s COVID-19 case management.

This development comes on the back of reports that a number of government officials have tested positive of COVID-19.

The country suffered another loss after reports of the passing of the former General Secretary of the NPP, Kwadwo Owusu Afriyie, popularly referred to as Sir John.

Currently, the New Patriotic Party’s campaign manager for the 2020 general elections, Peter Mac Manu and Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry, Carlos Ahenkorah are receiving treatment at the Intensive Care Unit of the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital after both tested positive for COVID-19.

Many government officials have tested positive for the virus including two other Deputy Ministers who are currently receiving treatment at the University of Ghana Medical Centre (UGMC).

Government Officials including Kwaku Agyeman-Manu, Minister for Health, Dr Lydia Dsane-Selby, CEO of the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), Daniel Kwaku Botwe, Minister for Regional Reorganization and Development, Dr. Mathew Opoku Prempeh, Minister for Education, have recently tested positive for the virus, hence receiving treatments at the various health facilities in the country.

Meanwhile, Ghana’s COVID-19 case count has increased to 18,630 after 496 cases were recorded.