Infected Ghanaian minister resigns after breaching COVID-19 protocol

Ghana’s deputy minister for trade and industry, Carlos Ahenkorah has resigned after breaching COVID-19 protocols.

Ahenkorah resigned after admitting to breaching established COVID-19 guidelines despite having tested positive for the disease. It was learnt that the Minister visited a registration centre in his constituency before he completed self-isolation.

Eugene Arhin, director of communications, office of the president said in a statement;

“The President of the Republic, Nana Asso Dankwa Akufo-Addo, on Friday, 3rd July, July, 2020 accepted the resignation from office of the Deputy Minister for Trade and Industry, Hon. Carlos Kingsley Ahenkorah, MP, which takes immediate effect.

“This follows the admission by the Deputy Minister of his breach of the COVID-19 protocols, when, as a person certified to be positive for the virus, he visited a registration centre in his constituency before the period of self-isolation was complete.

“President Akufo-Addo is admonishing all of his appointees to bear in mind that they are to provide leadership at all times, for adherence to the protocols that have been established to help the nation defeat COVID-19.

“In accepting the resignation, the President recognises that Hon Carlos Ahenkorah has acted honourably in the circumstances by resigning his office, and wishes him well.”

Ghana has so far recorded 18,134 confirmed cases of Coronavirus and 117 deaths. The pandemic has claimed over 522,000 lives, with over 10.93 million confirmed cases and more than 5.79 million recoveries.