Coronavirus: Ghanaians will be evacuated when it's necessary – MoH

The Ministry of Health (MoH) has assured that Ghanaians living and studying in China are safe from the deadly coronavirus and will be evacuated when it becomes necessary.

According to the MoH, no Ghanaian has been infected with the virus in China or anywhere else across the globe.

This comes on the back of calls by the Minority for the Government to evacuate Ghanaians from China.

The Member of Parliament for North Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa who is a key advocate in a Facebook post said: “May it never be said of us that we have become the country renowned for waging expensive campaigns to attract largely rich and famous Africans in the diaspora through the ‘Year of Return’ and ‘Beyond the Return’ initiatives and yet cannot spend a fraction of that to evacuate our stranded compatriots in China.”

So far, countries like France, Switzerland, The Philippines, Russia, Libya among others, have evacuated their nationals from China as a result of the deadly virus.

But the MoH in a statement said it is in “collaborations with the World Health Organisation, West African Health Organisation, US Centres for Disease Control and other development partners, discussing and reviewing our strategies day by day. So far, all advice through consultations and engagements is not encouraging us to undertake mass evacuation as yet because of the following:

1. Sub regional consultation- the West African Health Organisation is engaging member states and has not recommended evacuation yet

2. Public Health principles in outbreak situations.”

The Ministry noted that all these notwithstanding, it is reviewing the situation by the hour and when it becomes necessary, will tow the next line of action as appropriate, including evacuation.

The Ministry further said the Government is much concerned about Ghanaians in China especially the Ghanaian students, and is working to ensure their protection, safety and wellbeing.

Meanwhile, Ghanaians have been advised to delay non-essential travels to China.