Earlier, there had been rumors going round that Dr. Bernard Okoe Boye, the Deputy Health Minister said that schools with 15 percent COVID-19 positive cases would be shut down.
However, the Deputy Minister had debunked the rumors calling it a “malicious propaganda.”
“I still am convinced that the government that invested in the tuition and boarding fees of all SHS students can be trusted to take care of students to the very end of their stay in school. I would like to urge all parents to keep calm, call their school heads or 311 in case they have any queries. Just as the over 200,000 tertiary students finished their programs without a calamity, so would these SHS students too finish by the grace of the Almighty. May God bless our homeland Ghana,” Mr. Okoe Boye said.
There had been incessant calls from parents and other concerned citizens for the closure of schools in the country as cases of COVID-19 continually increases.
However, government has paid deaf ears to the calls even as it says that about 110 positive COVID-19 cases had been recorded in 34 schools out of the 400000 in the affected schools.
Find below his full statement
RE: SCHOOLS WOULD BE SHUT DOWN IF COVID-19 RATE REACHES 15%.
I write to state categorically that I haven’t said anywhere that schools would be shut down if COVID-19 rate reaches 15%. It is sad and unfortunate that Myjoyonline would decide to engage in this malicious propaganda at a time when we have to focus on disseminating informed education material on COVID-19 related matters.
I spoke on Asempa FM yesterday, the 14th of July, 2020 and helped listeners to appreciate the fact that calling for closure of schools because of recorded cases cannot be just and scientifically sound. This is because COVID-19 cases could be picked anywhere including the church, schools, mosque, market as well as educational institutions.
What is important is to find out whether there are protocols to isolate, trace contacts and treat cases. I stated on the program that the meticulous preschool activities put in place by the Akufo-Addo government and the protocols and logistics put in the schools would help see students through to the end of their examinations. MULTIMEDIA recorded some COVID-19 cases; nobody called for its closure.
I still am convinced that the government that invested in the tuition and boarding fees of all SHS students can be trusted to take care of students to the very end of their stay in school. I would like to urge all parents to keep calm, call their school heads or 311 in case they have any queries. Just as the over 200,000 tertiary students finished their programs without a calamity, so would these SHS students too finish by the grace of the Almighty. May God bless our homeland Ghana.
Dr. Okoe Boye (MP).
A deputy minister for Health
Source: GHANAFEED.COM