Municipal Chief Executive for Lower Manya Krobo on Friday, May 8, 2020 distributed face masks free of charge to help stop the spread of the Coronavirus in the municipality.

Mr. Simon Kweku Tetteh gave the masks to market women, buyers, drivers and passengers at the Agomanya market with the distribution set for other locations.

The supply of the masks by the Lower Manya Krobo Municipal Assembly in collaboration with the Ministry of Local Government will see the sharing of thousands of masks to the locals as authorities intensify education and various interventions in a bid to subdue and combat the covid-19.

The action is in respect of the directive of health authorities which seeks to make the wearing of face masks obligatory and Mr. Tetteh said 10000 have been earmarked for distribution.

“The wearing of masks is now compulsory as directed by the Ministry of Health and the Assembly is also enforcing it and we have earmarked about 10000 to be distributed,” he said.

The distribution, he noted will be intensified at various places across the municipality including the markets, shops and lorry stations across the municipality.

He told this journalist that everyone should cooperate with health workers and security forces during this difficult time.

The Assembly Chief said while many residents within the constituency have received their share of the free face masks, the exercise will not stop until every constituent has a free mask.

Though wearing of the face masks is very low among the people, Mr. Tetteh said the practice was gradually picking up and said education would be intensified among residents to promote and make the use of the masks a part of the daily lives of the people.

Ghana has reported 4,700 cases with 22 deaths and 494 recoveries from the virus known as COVID-19.

President Akufo-Addo in a televised address weeks ago advised Ghanaians to wear face masks as a part of measures to prevent contracting Covid-19.

“I want to encourage you to wear a mask wherever you go, as it will help you not to contract the virus, and keep it clean…If you own a business or are providing a service, i.e. a barber, a hairdresser, a tailor, a taxi driver, a trotro driver and his ‘mate’, a shop keeper, a food seller, please do well to use a mask,” President Akufo-Addo advised.

The Council of State has also appealed to government to consider providing all Ghanaians with face masks.