No vaccination, no conference – Government to NPP Delegates

The Government on Monday cautioned members of the New Patriotic Party against non-compliance of COVID-19 protocols ahead of the Party’s National Annual Delegates Conference.

It said strict adherence to all laid down protocols before, during and after the conference was necessary to prevent a possible fourth wave of the virus.

The New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) upcoming National Annual Delegate conference on the theme: “NPP, Our Resolves, Our Determination and Commitment to Ghana’s Development” is scheduled from Saturday 18 December to Monday 20 December 2021 in Kumasi at the Hero’s Park.

Delegates from across the country would converge at the conference to discuss internal party issues and re-strategise ahead of 2024 polls.

Dr. Anthony Nsiah-Asare, the Presidential Advisor on Health, who gave the caution at a Press Conference in Accra, said: “Anyone who has not been vaccinated will not be allowed at the conference grounds.”

Dr. Nsiah-Asare said attendees COVID vaccination card would be checked and that “failure to adhere to all laid down covid protocols and compliance will be a hindrance to the conference.”

He, therefore, urged all Party Chairmen to advise members to go for the COVID-19 jabs ahead of the conference.

“We want to come to the conference safe and go back safe…we want to do this to serve as an example to everyone,” he said.

“The true spirit of the delegate conference is to enhance party unity around the singular effort of working closely with Ghanaians as we recover from covid -19 and rebuild our economy in new ways to feed into a future of shared growth. The party will be focused on dealing with constitutional amendments proposed by members,” Mr Yaw Buaben Asamoa, NPP Communications Director, said.

On 26 April 2020, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, extended the suspension of all public and social gatherings for two weeks.

The extension took effect on 27 April at 1:00 am and remained in effect through to 10 May.

The President also stressed the Minister of Health’s directive on wearing masks in public and reinforced the Regional Coordinating Councils’ decision to mandate the use of face masks in public for the Greater Accra, Ashanti, and Central Regions.

The President, however, lifted the ban on social gatherings, including places of worship.

In line with social distancing rules amid the coronavirus pandemic, he said, mosques and churches could host worshippers at one-fourth of their capacity.

“An abridged format for religious services can commence. Twenty-five per cent (25%) attendance, with a maximum number of one hundred (100) congregants can worship at a time in church or the mosque, with a mandatory one-metre rule of social distancing between congregants,” President Akufo-Addo said.

He also urged religious leaders to encourage frequent hand washing and wearing of face masks, and disinfect places of worship before use.

The President said the easing of measures also applied to political activities, weddings, market places and government and private office.