Vice-president Kwesi Amissah-Arthur has advised the public, as a matter of urgency, to reduce human-to-human contacts, especially with travellers from countries affected by the Ebola disease.
Such cautious approach to human interaction, he said, could help prevent an Ebola outbreak in the country.
Acknowledging that Ghanaians were generally hospitable, Mr Amissah-Arthur said there was the need, however, “to manage that culture well for now and save ourselves from contracting the deadly Ebola virus”.
The Vice-President was addressing the congregation of the Chiraa Circuit of the Methodist Church, Ghana in the Brong Ahafo Region, where he unveiled a foundation stone for the construction of a church complex last Sunday.
The project was initiated by the immediate past Presiding Bishop of the Methodist Church, Most Rev. Dr Robert Aboagye-Mensah, who, together with his wife, funded the project.
Mr Amissah-Arthur described the Ebola phenomenon which had claimed the lives of some West Africans, as a clash of culture and science and asked the congregation to reduce human-to-human contact.
Ebola
Countries affected by the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) are: Guinea, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Nigeria and Senegal, which recorded its first case last week. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), more than 1,600 confirmed cases of EVD and 887 deaths had been reported as of August 1, this year.
Health authorities in Ghana have so far assessed 37 suspected cases of Ebola but all of them tested negative.
However, they have cautioned against complacency as efforts are being made to contain any possible outbreak. Treatment centres are being set up in Tema, for the southern zone, Kumasi, for the middle zone, and Tamale, for the northern zone.
Support for church
The Vice-President pledged his support for the church’s project and commended Rev. Dr Aboagye-Mensah for the initiative.
He expressed optimism that Dr Abogye-Mensah would be part of the success story and thank God at the completion of the project next year.
District and municipal chief executives in the region donated 100 bags of cement towards the project.
In his sermon, Rev. Dr Aboagye-Mensah explained that his decision to initiate the project was informed by the biblical story of David who built the temple.
He called on the congregation to give generously to the underprivileged and pray for the completion of the project.
The Vice-President had earlier paid a courtesy call on the Queenmother of Chiraa, Nana Yeboa Pene, and the elders of the community.
Source: Graphic Online