Ghana: COVID-19 Outbreak Suspends Parliament

The Parliament of Ghana has shut down its activities after a recent outbreak of coronavirus (COVID-19) among members and staff.

On Tuesday, 9 February, local news outlets reported that at least 17 members of Parliament (MPs) and 151 staff members had been infected with the virus.

Speaker of the House, Alban Bagbin, stated on the same day: “I have, in consultation with leadership, decided that sitting of the House be adjourned for three weeks.”

Parliament is expected to resume its full operations on 2 March; however, only permitted MPs and support staff would be allowed as needed on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

Funerals, weddings, parties and other large gatherings have been banned since March last year, while Ghana’s borders are closed to limit human traffic.

To date, the western African nation has 73 003 confirmed cases of COVID-19: 6 938 are currently active, while 482 people have died.