Ghana’s Chief of Staff, Mr Prosper Bani has appealed to the international community to help address the social challenges associated with the Ebola scourge in parts of the West African sub region.
He said while efforts are being made in tackling the disease, economic challenges facing such countries should not be overlooked.
Mr Bani made the appeal when the United States ambassador to the United Nation, Samantha Powers, paid a courtesy call on him.
[contextly_sidebar id=”rzzVSxYZv2mWtTdXJbGckFDOwHar02lw”]The visit was to brief and hold discussions with the Presidency over the Ebola response which Ghana is championing.
Whilst appreciating the efforts of the international community in fighting the disease which has devastated Liberia, Guinea and Sierra Leone, Mr Bani urged them to also focus on the social effects on the countries involved.
He said the stigma and the effects on the various economies are likely to affect the whole of the West African sub region hence the need to also focus on that.
Nearly 5,000 people have been killed by the Ebola disease since it broke out.
Mr Bani reiterated the fact that President Mahama is leading efforts to ensuring that the disease is effectively contained within the sub-region.
“We recognize the fact that Ebola as its spreading in the region goes beyond a health problem. It has caused several social and economic challenges in Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia. So as we speak of addressing the specific health challenges around Ebola, it is our hope that bilateral and multilateral agencies working to prevent and contain the disease will begin to address the social and economic challenges that are currently being faced and that has the potential to affect not only this three countries but the region as a whole,” Mr Bani added.
Meanwhile, Ambassador Samantha Powers, conveyed President Obamas commendation to Ghana for hosting the United Nations mission on Ebola.
According to her the United States government and the United Nations are encouraged by President Mahama’s leadership role in ensuring that the spread of the disease is managed.
Ambassador Powers arrived in Ghana after touring the three worst affected countries where she criticized the level of international support.
Whilst assuring the safety of Ghanaians as the nation houses the Ebola response centre, she also assured of the support from the United States in case of an outbreak in Ghana
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By: Godwin Allotey Akweiteh/citifmonline.com/Ghana