Ninety-seven people, including 37 females, were yesterday arrested by the police for failing to wear nose masks in the Accra metropolis.
This follows directive by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to the police to enforce the mandatory wearing of nose masks,to contain the spread of COVID-19.
The exercise was conducted at CMB, Farisco and Railway Station, and other parts of the metropolis.
The Accra Regional Police Command Public Relations Officer (PRO)Deputy Superintendent of Police(DSP)Effia Tenge, who disclosed these to the Ghanaian Times, in Accra, yesterday, said possibly warning letters would be issued to suspects.
In a related development,the Kaneshie Divisional Police Commander Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP)Edward Faakye-Kumi, led police in ensuring that traders and people at Kaneshie market area wore nose masks.
He said the police ensured that all travelers wore nose masks before they continued their journey, as personnel undertook snap checks in vehicles, at the market and shopping centres and transport stations.
ACP Faakye-Kumi said that the operation revealed that some people concealed the nose masks in their pockets.
He stressed that the exercise was to ensure people adhered to COVID-19 safety protocol, adding that personnel would enforce the law as part of their daily routine.
The Ghanaian Times observed that traders were briskly selling nose masks as people who spotted the police undertaking the operation rushed to purchase the nose masks.
Whiles some traders at Kaneshie market cheered the police for embarking on the exercise to prevent the spread of the disease, others expressed their frustrations at wearing the masks for long hours.
It would be recalled that President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addoin the22nd broadcast to the nation on the COVID-19, directed the police and other security agencies to collaborate to ensure the strict enforcement of COVID-19 safety protocol, following the upsurge of the disease.
He said “lhave instructed the Inspector General of Police (IGP) to direct officers, men and women of the Ghana Police Service to ensure the rigorous enforcement of the law on mask wearing at all public places and public transport.
“They are also to ensure the closure of all-night clubs, pubs, cinemas and beaches that may be operating in defiance of the law.”
Ghana has so far 58,065 confirmed cases of COVID-19, Recoveries/discharge cases of 55,789, 352 deaths, 1,924 active cases and 351 new cases.
BY ANITA NYARKO-YIRENKYI
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