The Eastern Regional Minister (right) in a discussion with some staff of the company
The Eastern Regional Minister, Eric Kwakye Darfour, acting on the advice of the Eastern Regional Public Health Emergency Committee and National Response Team against COVID-19, has reopened AFCONS Constructions to continue its operations.
AFCONS Constructions, an Indian company contracted by government of Ghana to construct a 91-kilometre railway line from Tema to Mpakadan, had its operations suspended following the outbreak of the novel coronavirus among staff of the company.
Some 82 staff members of the company got infected after an Indian national imported one case of Covid-19 to the company.
However, following the remarkable recovery of all patients, the Minister of Information, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, hinted of the company’s reopening last Sunday.
“I understand that the factory of the AFCON Company will reopen later this week for work to start. With the help of the general public, the cases in the Eastern Region are contained; therefore it will not be prudent to keep the facility under lock.
“We certainly don’t have any basis to lock the facility after there are no new incoming cases; the infected persons have been well treated, recovered and discharged,” the Minister said in a media interview.
Reopening
Subsequently, the Eastern Regional Minister on Wednesday June 3 reopened the company.
In his address, Mr Darfour advised the workers to continue to adhere to the safety protocols given by the government to prevent further spread of the virus. He also encouraged the staff to work hard so that they finish the project on time.
In her update report, the Regional Director of Health Service, Dr Alberta Biritwum-Nyarko, said all the 82 workers who were infected have been treated and fully recovered to do their work. She also encouraged them to continue to adhere to the stated protocols outline to contain the virus.
The Deputy General Manager of the company, Mr Korimilli V S N Murthy, thanked the government, the Regional Minister and the Ghana Health Service for their support during the difficult times. He assured that the company would work hard to meet the deadline.
