The Asanteman Council of North America (ACONA), a body committed to the welfare of Ghanaians living in the United States (US) and Canada, has lauded the government for being proactive in the fight to contain the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to the Council, the scientific manner in which the country braced itself up to control the spread of the novel coronavirus had helped deal with the situation.

"Ghana's strategic approach to identify early suspected COVID-19 cases amongst the citizenry, through contact-tracing and testing is the best way to go," Nana Kwabena Osei, Spokesperson of the Council, noted, in an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA), Kumasi.

This was on the sidelines of ACONA's meeting with the Management of the Manhyia Palace COVID-19 Humanitarian Relief, a philanthropic initiative of the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II.

The meeting was chaired by Mr. Kofi Badu, the Chief of Staff, Manhyia Palace.

Earlier, Executive Members of the Council, including Nana Kwame Gyamfi, who is the 'Toronto Gyaasehene', and some chiefs led by Bremanghene, Baffour Kotei Kutin Sraman, had presented a cheque for GH¢ 50, 000.00 to the Relief.

The gesture aimed to support the Asantehene in the fight against the pandemic, of which Ghana had as of Wednesday, June 03, recorded 8, 548 confirmed cases, 38 deaths, and 3,132 recoveries.

According to the Ghana Health Service's portal on COVID-19, more than 220, 000 tests had been done with a positivity rate of 3.88 since the country recorded its first two cases on March 12, this year.

Nana Osei, who is the 'Chicago Krontihene' of ACONA, observed that the exemplary leadership demonstrated by the government in the COVID-19 fight ought to be sustained.

"Many countries are learning from Ghana's model. We should, therefore, be resilient in maintaining the momentum," he noted.

Nana Kwame Gyamfi warned that the novel coronavirus was real, citing how it had devastated the health systems and socio-economic lives of countries worldwide.

Consequently, it behooves the people not to take chances in their handling of it, he said, urging Ghanaians to learn to live with it.

Mr. Badu, in a brief statement, said the Manhyia Palace had been working with identifiable groups to create awareness on the need for the citizenry to maintain good personal hygiene, while also observing the COVID-19 preventive protocols.

He asked Ghanaians living in the Diaspora to strive to contribute effectively towards the nation's development cause.

ACONA was formed in 1991 in Toronto, Canada, under the leadership of Nana Fredua Agyemang II, the First President, to promote the welfare of Ghanaians in the Diaspora, and also support development projects at home.