Two new products from Cuba for the control of mosquitoes were on Thursday introduced by the Ministries of Tourism and Modernization of the Capital City and Science and Environment. The products, Bactivec and Griselesf, would be tested at La and other areas in Accra from next week, with the ultimate objective to rid the country of mosquitoes. They have been determined as not harmful and poisonous and could be in the environment, especially water bodies and other mosquito breeding grounds. The project would be implemented by a Sunrise International Limited, a Ghanaian company. Bactivec and Griselesf act on the mosquito larvae preventing them from growing into full mosquitoes. It is active in the environment for seven to 60 days. <br> <br> Mr Jake Obetsebi-Lamptey, Minister of Tourism and Modernization of the Capital City, launching the pilot project said Cuba had made an offer to help Ghana to eliminate mosquitoes, which cause malaria, the disease that accounts for most Out Patient Department cases in the country. He said mosquitoes had a very negative effect on tourism, as visitors were unable to sit outside and relax in their hotels. "Most hotels are filled with mosquitoes and people cannot sit outside and enjoy the evening breeze," he added.
The Minister said La was chosen because it offered all the challenges likely to be faced in other areas. Mr. Obetsebi-Lamptey said the spraying would be done for four weeks continuously and after which there would be a three-month break before resumption. <br> <br> He noted that the products had been successful in Cuba, saying: "Now there are no mosquitoes in Cuba and their Tourism industry is booming." The Ministry in collaboration with the Ministry of Science and Environment would put up a monitoring measure to ensure that the product is really effective so that it could be extended to other areas. Mr Obetsebi-Lamptey visited the La Manste's palace to inform him about the project and visited the Lagoons in the area. Mr Kassim Kasanga, Minister for Science and Environment witnessed the launch.