Ghanaian Biostatistician, Dr. Justice Moses Aheto has asserted that Ghana can only identify the real COVID-19 situation and put in place appropriate countermeasures by undertaking calculated testing.
According to him, the government can gradually start easing restrictions after this has been done.
Speaking to Happy 98.9 FM’s Samuel Eshun on the partial reopening of schools for final year students and COVID-19 testing on the Happy Morning Show, he said, “If we can’t do mass testing, then we should focus on doing random testing. That can give us the prevalence rate of the virus.”
He noted that when testing is done and the country records lower prevalence rates, then, the government can start relaxing restrictions.
Criticising the government’s testing efforts, he mentioned that “After gov’t finds COVID-19 positive cases, they mark a 2km radius and start testing those who fall within the zone.” But he advised the government to focus on area mapping to identify hotspots and act accordingly.
To him, the government’s testing efforts do not give Ghanaians an equal chance of being tested.
On his authority, the testing used by the government invalidates some areas they considered as hotspots. “Even areas that were not considered as hotspots have become hotspots now.”
“A single person can transmit the virus to about 1000 people. And this is the time we have to be careful,” he warned.
He believes as the government has not undertaken these critical steps then, “I don’t understand why we are deciding to reopen schools.”
Per the President’s directives, schools have started resuming for final year students to sit for the exit exam.
This move has been criticised by some members of the Ghanaian populace saying the decision can pose a threat to the safety of these students.
