The government of Ghana (GoG), through the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development has launched a nationwide disinfection exercise in partnership with Zoomlion Ghana Limited, the leading waste management company in Ghana on Tuesday, July 21 2020, at the Golden Jubilee Park in Kumasi, in the Ashanti Region.
The project was part of government’s efforts at fighting against the coronavirus pandemic which has seen on exponential increase in the last couple of months since its first was first recorded in the country. As the strategic partner in this exercise, Zoomlion Ghana Limited has also deployed disinfection trucks, drones, and other equipment to facilitate the ongoing work in the various regions.
The Kumasi exercise begun on Monday 20th July 2020. It was preceded by an intensive cleaning exercise in at least 186 markets in the regional capital. According to the Mayor of the capital, Hon. Assibey-Antwi, the Municipal Assembly has been relentless in its efforts in ensuring a safe gathering space for residents in the region. He also noted that the municipal assembly has been in continuous dialogue with residents and market women to ensure that the disinfection exercise produces the best results in safeguarding the health of all market users.
According to him, the first phase of the disinfection exercise, which included an intensive cleaning exercise in all the markets in the region produced more waste than nominal records per the regions’ waste generation capacity. This, according to him, shows the how committed and prepared the municipality was in ensuring that the region played its part in the fight against the spread of the virus.
He also revealed that government has distributed personal safety equipment to various schools, hospitals and public offices across the region. According to him, veronica buckets, soaps, masks, gloves, hand sanitisers and tissue papers have been distributed to all schools and public centres in the region.
In addition, he also revealed that the government has procured extra Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs) to the tune of 58 million dollars to assist the various private and public medical centres in the region.
The Regional Minister, Hon.Simon Osei-Mensah in an encounter with the media revealed that the disinfection exercise was part of government’s strategic and aggressive efforts in fighting the spread of the virus in the various regions of the country. He indicated government’s commitment in safeguarding the lives of the people by making sure that all public spaces are safe, especially markets, where food and other important daily consumables are sold.
Speaking about the work of Zoomlion in the region, the Minister expressed his satisfaction at the preparedness of the company, as he took the opportunity to inspect and assess the various equipment assembled for the exercise.
He was positive that the exercise would be successful and greatly help reduce the spread of the virus in the region. He took the opportunity to appeal to all market women and leaders to help ensure a successful exercise.
Background
The Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development in partnership with Zoomlion Ghana limited begun a nationwide disinfection exercise in schools, markets, churches and all public spaces across all regions in the country following the World Health Organisations acknowledgment that airborne transmission of the coronavirus may occur.
In line with continued measures to halt the spread of the virus, Government has taken the initiative to disinfect all public spaces and properties around the country. The first phase of the exercise begun in the early stages of the disease, which included selected public properties including airports, public universities, and some markets.
The general manager of Zoomlion Ghana limited, Mr Philip Yeboah Asante assured journalists of Zoomlion’s continuous commitment in the fight against the virus by any means possible. He said that the company is committed to making all public gathering spaces safe through the exercise and called on more support from the public, media, and government in achieving this collectively.
