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The Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA) has tasked Heads of Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to enforce strictly the COVID-19 safety protocols at all levels of their working places.

Mr Osei Assibey-Antwi, Metropolitan Chief Executive (MCE), said this must not be compromised as negligence on the part of the people could be devastating for the society.

“Data from our health facilities related to the increasing number of confirmed COVID-19 cases and deaths, especially among the youth, should serve as a warning to all and sundry,” he noted.

Citing the government’s recent directives and restrictions to mitigate the spread of the pandemic, which had so far resulted in over 400 deaths, the MCE pointed out that being law-abiding was the only remedy to save the nation from a calamity.

Mr Assibey-Antwi was speaking to the Ghana News Agency (GNA), Kumasi, on the sidelines of the inauguration of a 300-bed capacity girls’ dormitory block at the Serwaah Nyarko SHS, funded by the Ghana Education Trust (GET) Fund.

Other projects jointly inaugurated by the MCE and Minister-designate for the Ashanti Region, Mr Simon Osei-Mensah, included a 12-unit classroom block each for the Kumasi Anglican and Asanteman SHSs, as well as a 200-bed capacity boys’ dormitory block for the Armed Forces SHS.

The rests are a 12-unit classroom block and 300-bed capacity girls’ dormitory block for the Kumasi Adventist SHS and two separate three-storey dormitory blocks for the Kumasi Senior High and Technical School.

The projects were executed under the Emergency Senior High School Projects.

Mr Assibey-Antwi said the KMA was liaising with stakeholders to ensure that the necessary measures were in place to protect pupils and students while in school.

He described as worrying the increasing rate of COVID-19 infections amongst children as confirmed by the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) and advised the youth to be wary of their response to the safety protocols.

Mr Osei-Mensah advocated the mandatory wearing of nose masks and social distancing, especially at public places, saying the Regional Coordinating Council (RCC) in line with the government’s directives would enforce the safety protocols to the letter.

He reminded the citizenry that the pandemic was likely to spread if the people took things for granted.

While inaugurating the projects, the Minister-designate promised educational institutions of the government’s resolve to provide them with the needed personal protective items in their fight against the pandemic.

The projects were executed by different contractors, including Messrs. K. Sarmad Limited, M. Gyebi Company Limited and Asumadu Constructions.