Coronavirus: Markets in Ashanti disinfected

The Ashanti Regional Coordinating Council in collaboration with the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development on Friday, carried out an exercise to disinfect markets across the region.

The exercise which was supported by the Zoomlion Ghana, saw several markets sprayed with chemicals as part of measures being taken by the government to contain the spread of the coronavirus in the country.

Mr Simon Osei Mensah, Ashanti Regional Minister, speaking to journalists before the start of the exercise, said about 230 markets have been identified to be sprayed in the region.

He said 22 markets in the Kumasi metropolis would benefit from the exercise.

Mr Osei Mensah, said market paces were areas where people converged in their numbers to transact various forms of businesses.

There was, therefore, the need to disinfect those areas to reduce the risk of people getting infected with the disease.

As at 7 am on Friday morning when the Ghana News Agency visited some of the market centres in Kumasi, workers of Zoomlion draped in their protective clothes, were seeing spraying the markets with the police and military officers providing security.

They also sprayed lorry stations within the markets and lanes and streets in the vicinity.

All shops and stores in the markets had been closed ahead of the exercise and indications were that the markets would not be opened for trading activities today.

Some of the traders who spoke to the GNA commended the government for the initiative and said it would not only help prevent to the spread of the Coronavirus, but other infections caused by rodents and insanitary conditions in the markets.