On 5 January 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) notified the world about "pneumonia of unknown cause" in China and subsequently followed up with investigating the disease. On 20 January, the WHO confirmed human-to-human transmission of the disease. On 30 January, the WHO declared the outbreak a Public Health Emergency of International Concern and warned all countries to prepare. On 11 March, the WHO said that the outbreak constituted a pandemic. By 5 October the same year, the WHO estimated that a tenth of the world's population had been infected with the novel virus.[ citation needed ]
The WHO has spearheaded several initiatives like the COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund to raise money for the pandemic response, the UN COVID-19 Supply Chain Task Force, and the solidarity trial for investigating potential treatment options for the disease.[ citation needed ]
In responding to the outbreak, the WHO has had to deal with political conflicts between member states, in particular between the United States and China. [1] [2] On May 19, the WHO agreed to an independent investigation into its handling of the pandemic. On August 27, the WHO announced the setting up of an independent expert Review Committee to examine aspects of the international treaty that governs preparedness and response to health emergencies.[ citation needed ]
Haruna Iddrisu is a Ghanaian lawyer, politician, football enthusiast and owner of Karela United and Steadfast Football clubs owner who is a member of the eighth Parliament of the Fourth Republic of Ghana representing Tamale South. He served as the Minority Leader for NDC in Ghana's Parliament from January 2017 and was succeeded by Ato Forson.
Osmanu Nuhu Sharubutu is a Ghanaian Islamic cleric who currently serves as the Chief Imam of Ghana, as well as a member of the National Peace Council. He was first appointed as the Deputy Regional Chief Imam in 1974 after a lengthy discussions among tribal chiefs, academics, Islamic scholars, and religious personalities. During this period he deputized his cousin, Imam Muhammed Mukhtar Abbas, who succeeded his father. He is also the founder of the Dr. Sheikh Osmanu Nuhu Sharubutu Education Trust Fund and the Islamic Peace and Security Council of Ghana (IPASEC).
John Dumelo is a Ghanaian actor and politician. On 1 April 2014, he emerged as the first Ghanaian to hit a million likes on Facebook. His parents are Mr. John Dumelo, who was a civil engineer, and Mrs. Antoinette Dumelo, a customs officer.
Livingstone Etse Satekla, better known by his stage name Stonebwoy, is a Ghanaian Afropop, Afro-dancehall and reggae musician.
Kojo Vincent Oppong Nkrumah is a Ghanaian politician and lawyer. He is the member of parliament for the Ofoase-Ayirebi constituency. Having served as the Minister of Information since November 2018, he was appointed the Minister for Works and Housing during a Ministerial reshuffle on Wednesday, February 14, 2024.
Kwaku Agyemang-Manu a Ghanaian politician. He is the Member of Parliament for Dormaa Central and was Ghana's Minister of Health between January 2017 and February 2024. He is a Chartered Management Accountant and obtained a Bachelor of Arts in Economics and Statistics from the University of Ghana in 1989.
Adina Thembi Ndamse better known by her stage name Adina is a Ghanaian-South African singer, songwriter, actress and sometimes a model. She was the winner of music reality show Stars of the Future in 2008. Her eighth music single titled "Too Late" won her two awards – Record of the Year and Best Female Vocalist of the Year at the 2018 Vodafone Ghana Music Awards in Ghana. In March 2021, she was among the Top 30 Most Influential Women in Music by the 3Music Awards Women's Brunch.
Henry Quartey is a Ghanaian politician and member of the Seventh Parliament of the Fourth Republic of Ghana representing the Ayawaso Central Constituency in the Greater Accra Region on the ticket of the New Patriotic Party. He served as the Minister for Greater Accra Region. On 14th February 2024, he was approved as the minister of the interior of Ghana replacing Ambrose Dery.
The COVID-19 pandemic in Ghana was a part of the worldwide pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2. The first two cases in Ghana were confirmed on 12 March 2020, when two infected people came to Ghana, one from Norway and the other from Turkey.
The Veronica bucket is a mechanism for hand washing originating in Ghana which consists of a bucket of water with a tap fixed at the bottom, mounted at hand height, and a bowl at the bottom to collect waste water. The Veronica bucket was developed by Veronica Bekoe. The Veronica bucket serves as a simple way to encourage proper hand washing using flowing water. Bekoe in an interview stated that the bucket was originally made to help her and her colleagues wash their hands under running water after each lab session. She said, "We are used to washing hands in a bowl with others washing in the same water, which will do more harm than good." These colleagues were contaminating their hands rather than decontaminating them. In addition to the COVID benefit of hand washing, the Veronica bucket is also essential for areas where potable water is not readily available.
The Coronavirus Alleviation Program Business Support Scheme (CAPBuSS) was launched in Ghana on 19 May 2020 by President Nana Akufo-Addo. It was formed as part of Ghana's government's intention of providing support to MSMEs who were affected by COVID-19 pandemic. It was presented by an agency under the Ministry of Trade and Industry in Ghana called NBSSI. The president announced GH¢1 billion after it was approved by the parliament of Ghana. The NBSSI ended the disbursement of funds in January 2021.
The Ghana Enterprises Agency (GEA) is a Ghanaian government agency under the Ministry of Trade and Industry. The GEA is mandated by the Ghana Enterprises Agency Act, 2020 to promote and develop MSMEs in Ghana. It replaced the National Board for Small-Scale Industries (NBSSI).
The Government of Ghana initially responded to the virus through a nationwide disinfection and fumigation exercise which began in April 2020. In order to curb the spread of the virus, the government enforced lockdowns, aggressive contact tracing, public bans and social measures such as encouraging the wearing of face masks. By April, it began the gradual reopening of the country; lifting all lockdowns while maintaining protocols such as social distancing. Throughout the pandemic, the government partnered with the private sector in order to roll out economic reliefs and recovery programs as a result of the impact of the pandemic on Ghana's economy. There was also an expansion of medical facilities and the improvement of testing logistics.
Africa's first confirmed case of COVID-19 was announced in Egypt on 14 February 2020. Many preventive measures have been implemented in different countries in Africa, including travel restrictions, flight cancellations, event cancellations, school closures, and border closures. Other measures to contain and limit the spread of the virus has included curfews, lockdowns, and enforcing the wearing of face masks. The virus has spread throughout the continent. Lesotho, the last African sovereign state to have remained free of the virus, reported a case on 13 May 2020.
The 2020–21 Ghana Premier League is the 65th season of top professional association football league in Ghana. The season started on 14 November 2020. 18 teams were competing in the league with each club playing each other twice, home and away, with the three clubs at the bottom of the league relegated to the Division One League. Hearts of Oak became champion for the first time since twelve years.
The following is a timeline of the COVID-19 pandemic in Ghana during 2021-2022.
Most governments decided to temporarily close educational institutions in an attempt to reduce the spread of COVID-19. As of 12 January 2021, approximately 825 million learners are affected due to school closures in response to the pandemic. According to UNICEF monitoring, 23 countries are implementing nationwide closures and 40 are implementing local closures, impacting about 47 percent of the world's student population. 112 countries' schools are open.
The following is a timeline of the COVID-19 pandemic in Ghana from August 2020 to December 2020.
Emmanuel Yeboah Bobbie, also known as Bob Pixel, was a professional Ghanaian photographer and graphic designer. He created his own brand in the form of documenting events like funerals and festivals. He worked with celebrities such as M.anifest, John Dumelo, Yvonne Nelson, Menaye Donkor, Jackie Appiah and others. He was to participate in the 2021 International Fashion Week in Amsterdam. He was also nominated for the 2021 Photographer of the Year in the Entertainment Achievement Awards.
COVID-19 vaccination in Ghana began on Monday 1 March 2021 after the country became the first recipient of the Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine as part of the COVAX initiative. As of 6 June 2021, Ghana has administered 1,230,000 vaccine doses.