Ghana deputy minister quits after virus protocol breach

ANKARA

Ghana’s deputy minister for trade has resigned after admitting he breached COVID-19 protocols by visiting a public place while being tested positive for the pandemic before his isolation period ends.

“The President of the Republic, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, on Friday, 3rd July, 2020, accepted the resignation from office of the Deputy Minister for Trade and Industry, Hon. Carlos Kingsley Ahenkorah, MP, which takes immediate effect,” Ghana’s presidency announced in a statement.

“This follows the admission by the Deputy Minister of his breach of the COVID-19 protocols, when as a person certified to be positive for the virus, he visited a registration centre before period of self-isolation was complete,” the statement read.

Ghana has so far confirmed 18,134 COVID-19 cases, with 117 recorded deaths, according to data compiled by the U.S.-based John Hopkins University.

Since first appearing in Wuhan, China last December, the infection has spread to at least 188 countries and regions, according to Johns Hopkins University.

The pandemic has claimed over 522,000 lives, with over 10.93 million confirmed cases and more than 5.79 million recoveries.