Gov’t Takes Market Fumigation to Ashanti Region On Thursday After Accra

The Ministry of Local Government has announced that it plans to fumigate all markets across the country as a precaution against the deadly coronavirus and that its next area of attention is the Ashanti Region after Greater Accra’s exercise was successfully completed yesterday.

Sector Minister, Hajia Alima Mahama, today told journalists in Accra that Kumasi, the Ashanti regional capital is next inline for fumigation and that markets in Ghana’s second-largest city will be sprayed starting Thursday.

“…so for the next one week, we will be targeting the rest of the country… Our plan is to start with Ashanti region on Thursday,” Hajia Mahama said during this morning’s briefing on the status of Ghana’s Covid 19 response.

Yesterday, all major markets in the national capital, which is now the epicentre of Ghana’s coronavirus infections were fumigated by the government. Trading had been suspended as tankers blasted liquid chlorine to selling spaces and everything in between in markets including Agbogbloshie, Makola, Kaneshie and Tema.

There had earlier been concerns that the chlorine solution that the Ministry was spraying would not be effective against the virus, however, the Local Government Minister told the press today that that solution is a prescription by experts including the World Health Organization.

“We use chlorine solution and I am told that this is the WHO recommendation for spraying and killing of viruses including coronavirus. Chlorine solution at 0.5. The scientists know what that means,” she said.

According to her, the fumigation will be repeated across the country after a first-round if need be.