President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has instructed the Inspector General of Police (IGP) to ensure the “rigorous enforcement” of the law on mask wearing at all public places.The directive includes persons in public transport.

“They are also to ensure the closure of all night clubs, pubs, cinemas and beaches that may be operating in defiance of the law,” the President said.

President Akufo-Addo who was speaking on update No. 22 on measures taken against the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic said the Police would be assisted by the other security agencies, if need be.

He said the country had seen an upsurge in the number of active cases, from a little over 900 to 1,924 as at the last update.

The President said it was important to remind all that severe punishment existed in the country’s laws for persons breaking the law on the mandatory wearing of masks.

“Should anyone be arrested by the security agencies disregarding this directive, that person will be dealt with strictly in accordance with law,” the President Akufo-Addo said.

“We do not want to go back to the days of partial lockdowns, which had a negative impact on our economy and on our way of life.”

However, he said should that become necessary, that the number of active cases continued to increase at the current rate, he would would have no option but to re-impose the restrictions because it was better to be safe than to be sorry.

“So, together, let us all ensure that we respect the protocols,” the President said.

He said regulatory agencies would undertake random checks to ensure conformity with COVID-19 rules and that should any facility or institution failed to comply with the directives, its activities would be immediately prohibited, and appropriate sanctions applied.

The President, therefore, pleaded with all to observe the COVID-19 protocols at all times and also called on students to be disciplined and observe the protocols to stop the spread of the virus.