COVID-19: Angry residents chase out lockdown escapees

Angry residents of Apantem, a farming community near Aburi in Akuapem South Municipality of the Eastern Region, on Wednesday, chased out four escapees from Accra, who are currently under lockdown over Coronavirus pandemic.

The four, included a native of the community who fled to seek refuge.

Their arrival in the community triggered agitations as residents fear they may infect them with coronavirus.

The agitations by the residents intensified as residents armed themselves with sticks, cutlass and clubs and threatened to attack the four escapees should they refuse to leave the community.

“We are all aware of this deadly disease which government has issued a directive that as a result, nobody should move to other region but we have a resident here called Emma but today we saw him receive three visitors from Accra that because of the lockdown they coming to stay with him. So we held an emergency meeting as a community and resolved that we cannot stay with them here so they should leave,” the Odikro of the Community Ohene Kwafo told Starr News.

Fortunately, the Municipal Chief Executive for Akuapem South, Frank Aidoo who was on an awareness campaign on COVID-19 coincidentally arrived in the community with his team and was able to calm down tempers.

The MCE gave the four persons money for transportation to travel back to Accra.

“We were on our usual routine to educate the villagers on COVID-19 and upon arrival, we were told that these gentlemen have actually sneaked into the village and that the villagers were up in arms and I will say that if we had not gone there it would have ended up in lynching because they were quite angry”.

COVID-19 cases in Ghana have now jumped to 214 with 5 deaths.

All five (5) deaths had underlying chronic medical conditions prior to COVID-19 infection.

Recovered & Discharged: three (3) have recovered and discharged; whilst one other is awaiting results of laboratory test to inform decision on discharge.