The Public Health Department of AMA carried out the exercise primarily to destroy any pathogenic organisms such as bacteria, viruses and parasites that were likely to be living on the surface of the environment as well as prevent reptiles from entering the facility after it got flooded last week. 

Speaking to the media after the exercise on Sunday, AMA Mayor, Elizabeth Kwatsoe Tawiah Sackey, said the exercise was targeted at curbing the outbreak of diseases such as cholera, typhoid fever, and hepatitis among others after floodwaters broke a wall separating the Polyclinic and the Ga Mantse Palace leading to the floodwaters entering the premises of the Polyclinic.

She said the team covered the Out-Patients Department (OPD) and surrounding buildings adding that the exercise was to put the facility in a safer state to provide health care to people in the metropolis and its environs. 

Madam Sackey assured that the AMA would support the clinic to reconstruct the broken wall as well as other structures affected by the floodwaters. 

“I have directed the Works Department, NADMO, Public Health as well as the task force to assist the hospital in cleaning up the facility and the reconstruction of the broken wall and other structures affected by the floods,” she said. 

She also debunked the allegation that the entire facility was temporarily shut down after the Tuesday heavy downpour, adding that the only area affected was the OPD.

This is to control the spread of Covid-19 and also kill vectors that transmit deadly diseases.

There have been fears among Ghanaians following reported cases of the deadly delta variant of the SARS CoV-2 ( Covid-19 virus) at the Airport of Ghana of which the Ghana Health Service in a statement has confirmed.

This deadly variant of the Covid-19 virus has been noted to be those recorded in India and wreaking havoc among its citizens.

Staff of Zoomlion were seen busily disinfecting the Kotoka International Airport (KIA) with sophisticated disinfection machines such as handheld foggers, knapsack sprayers, automated road sprayers among others.

The areas disinfected included arrival halls, departure halls, offices, basement, washrooms, tarmac, VIP lounges, waiting rooms, Hold baggage among other spaces at the Airport.

Speaking to journalists during the exercise, A Vector Control Officer of Zoomlion, Enoch Mintah explained that the constant disinfection of Airports have proved effective in de-activating bacteria and viruses including the spread of Covid-19.

He said regular disinfection of the Airports have helped reduce the Covid-19 cases which perhaps would have been higer without the monthly disinfection.

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“The chemicals and disinfectants being used by his outfit were WHO recommended and approved and their potency and environmental friendly impacts are unquestionable,” Mr Mintah pointed out.

Kumasi Airport Disinfection

At the Kumasi Airport, the the team disinfected all their facilities and touchable items.

The Ashanti Regional Vector Control Officer, Ernest Nutor, explained that aside the disinfection, ” a disinfestation exercise has also been done to control the menace of rodents, crawling and flying insects which are conduit for spreading other diseases and has become a concern for officials at the Airports.”

According to him, “the exercise is necessary because ants, rats, cockroaches and other insects do cause health problems and also destroy vital documents of officials hence the need to get rid of them.”

Mr Nutor added that Zoomlion has the expertise in vector control and disinfection services, hence the collaboration with the Airport authorities to regularly undertake the exercise.

Tamale Airport Disinfection

Over 20 staff of Zoomlion were seen disinfecting the Tamale Airport.

Areas disinfected included the fire service station, presidential lounge, sub-stations, car parks among others.

Abdul-Aziz Yelsouma, the Northern Regional Vector Control Officer of Zoomlion indicated that the regular disinfection of Airports in the country is a monthly exercise undertaken in collaboration with the Ghana Airport Company.

“As we all know Covid-19 is still with us and the new strain (Delta variant) of the virus has been recorded at the KIA Airport. It has become necessary for the reinforcement of all our control strategies especially mass disinfection of all Public places such as the Tamale Airport since it is still in operation,” he said.

Ho Airport Disinfection

At the Ho Airport, the Volta regional Vector Control Officer of Zoomlion Ghana Limited, Isaac Ablormeti stated that the rational behind the monthly disinfection and disinfestation exercise is to wall off snakes, harmful insects and viruses invading the environment of the airport and once this insects are curtailed it gives the staff confidence to stay in the environment without any fear or panic.

According to him, insects are fond of invading the environment looking at the nature of bushes around the airport.

“When you go round you will see some drains and gutters and that’s where the snakes are found so this exercise is basically to wall off such harmful animals with the monthly disinfection exercise by Zoomlion,” he added.

Zoomlion Ghana Limited has been at the forefront of disinfection of public places since the outbreak of Covid-19 in Ghana.

Ghana’s first recorded cases was imported and recorded at the KIA, hence the need to regularly disinfect the Airports.

This will be between Friday, March 26 and Saturday, March 27, 2021, as part of measures by the Ghana Health Service to fumigate health facilities.

The affected units will include the Laboratory, Pathology, Out-Patient Department, Administration, Pediatrics, Pharmacy, dental, radiology, medical records and Quartermaster stores.

This was announced in a statement signed by the Head of Public Affairs Unit, DSP Yaw Nketia which added the units will be opened for business on Sunday, March 28.

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Read the full statement below:

A statement from the outfit explained this comes after some workers tested positive for the novel coronavirus in a mass testing exercise.

“All necessary arrangements have been made for the affected staff to receive the necessary medical attention and contact tracing is currently ongoing to enforce quarantine and isolation measures,” the statement read.

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Meanwhile, it has urged clients with urgent businesses to make use of its online portal as work resumes on Monday, July 13, 2020.

Read the full statement:

The Kwame Nkrumah Circle is one of the many areas that were chosen to undergo fumigation.

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The interchange was surprisingly quiet, few cars taxied around with confused passengers stranded as the station was under ‘lock and key’.

Whispers took over the howling sound from the busy market and for once in a long time, the vicinity was cleaned up.

However, markets are open today, March 24, 2020 for smooth operation of business.

The Kejetia Petty Traders Association suggested the fumigation exercise should be done at night due to the strong chemicals used and also concurrently in all markets to avoid transfer of virus.

The unions also added their members had planned a similar initiative to de-silt choked gutters and spray them to sanitise the environment and urged the government to oversee to its success.

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Furthermore, Chairman of Kejetia Petty Traders Association, Nana Prempeh, advised health personnel should be deployed to all markets after fumigation to observe the aftermath of events.

Operations Manager, Ahmed Kwarteng, wants city authorities to dredge underground sewage at Kejetia to reduce unbearable stench.

To them, the exercise is critical in fighting the coronavirus threat, hence should be done judiciously.

The exercise, under the auspices of the Local Government and Rural Development Ministry, was in partnership with Zoomlion and personnel of the Ghana Armed Forces.

The exercise, according to the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development, was to help enhance hygienic conditions in the markets amid the novel coronavirus pandemic.

Over 1,000 markets and shops were shut to pave way for the exercise and are expected to be opened on Tuesday for normal business activities.

Adomonline.com’s Gershon Mortey took to the field to capture scenes from the exercise which was carried out at Mallam Atta, Nima, Alajo, Maamobi, Ayikidi markets and Kwame Nkrumah Circle’s Tip Toe lane.

Watch pictures from the exercise below:

Click here for more photos

Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) for Ayawaso West, Hon. Sandra Owusu-Ahinkorah, led a team to fumigate markets in her municipality in attempts to combat the coronavirus.

Giving credence to the saying – leadership by example – the MCE, geared up in her protective wear, stormed the Santama and University of Ghana Night Market to disinfect the surroundings.

Hon. Owusu-Ahinkorah disclosed she has taken personal interest in the exercise because it is about lives, hence she cannot take a back stage and give instructions.

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Among her team were Municipal Coordinating, Health Directors and Staff of Zoomlion as well as some New Patriotic Party Regional and Constituency Executives.

The markets were shut down to enable the metropolitan assembly carry out the exercise successfully without posing health hazards to the market workers.

It is expected to be open for business tomorrow, March 24, 2020.

See more photos below:

(VIDEO): COVID-19 disinfection underway at the Mallam-Atta Market. pic.twitter.com/WDdatyD4Pq

Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) has begun its fumigation exercise in over 1000 markets in the business capital Accra as traders are away.

The exercise according to the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development is to help enhance hygienic conditions in the markets amid the novel coronavirus pandemic.

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A visit to the Mallam Atta market and other markets in Accra revealed the readiness of personnel for the exercise.

The personnel were captured in their protecting equipment ranging from nose masks, gloves and their overcoats.

About 500 Military personnel have also been deployed to support the exercise.

Meanwhile, the markets would be closed down on March 23, 2020 and be reopened the next day for normal business to continue.

According to him, the Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDA) are unable to undertake projects because such contracts mostly not done take a chunk of the monies needed for developmental projects.

Hon Ackah’s comment comes after JOY NEWS’ investigations revealed, the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development single-sourced a 98-million-cedi spraying contract to eleven companies belonging to the Jospong Group of Companies in 2015.

The investigations also uncovered that this contract was awarded at a time government had two spraying contracts with another member of the Jospong Group, Zoomlion, to do the same job. The two Zoomlion contracts covered all the 216 Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs).

The contract awarded in 2015 for four months, was for fumigation across the country but some of the assemblies say they do not know about the companies which were supposed to undertake the exercise in their localities.

Zoomlion Ghana Limited has a long running fumigation or open spraying contract with all the 216 MMDAs in the country. In a year, each district assembly pays GhȻ161,000; every municipal assembly pays GHȻ184, 000 while the Metropolitan assemblies pay GHȻ207,000 each, for the fumigation.

Citing his district as an example on Adom FM’s morning show Fabewoso segment, Kwakye Ackah said development projects stalled under his watch because funds given them after deduction from source are woefully inadequate.

Listen to full interview