Markets in the Greater Accra will be close down tomorrow to give way for fumigation exercise embarked upon by the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development (MLGRD) in partnership with Zoomlion, a waste management company, to combat Coronavirus (Covid-19).

The fumigation exercise follows President Afufo-Addo’s directive to the Local Government Ministry to put in place practical measure to ensure hygienic conditions of the various across the country are improved.

The exercise is also necessitated by the World Health Organisation (WHO) declaring Coronavirus as pandemic, having affected some 300,000 persons since late 2019 and claiming more than 25,000 lives.

Ghana subsequently been reporting increasing cases of Covid-19 within day interval, hence the need to take pragmatic measures to stop the spread, especially in crowded areas like the market.

President Akufo-Addo part of measures to curb Covid-19 has made grouping of over 25 persons illegal, thereby placing ban on church service, the Mosque, funerals and others or social gatherings.

Others like Legislature Kennedy Agyapong has suggested the ban should be extended to shuttle services know as ‘trotor’ and taxis, since they can also be means of spreading the virus.

However, the President through the MLGRD has initiated action to ensure that markets, lorry parks and public places are professionally fumigated.

This project seeks to use professional and innovative methods for the prevention and control of COVID-19 in all the sixteen regions of Ghana to disinfect identified areas, provide personal hygiene materials and to create public awareness.

The scope of the project shall include but not limited to cover over 1,000 markets, 780 other public places and over 1,000 lorry parks accordingly.

In addition to this, preventive measures such as the provision of sanitizers, Jumbo Tissue, Waste Bins, Veronica Buckets and mass spraying exercises among others.

The ministry through the MMDAs in collaboration with other partners available will continue to monitor and ensure that strict measures are put in place to ensure that the virus does not spread more.

In addition, Veronica buckets, liquid soap, tissue and bins would be placed at strategic points to enable people wash their hands regularly.

By Bernice Bessey