The beneficiary institutions are the Ghana Health Service (GHS), the Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research (NMIMR) and the Accra Regional Hospital (Ridge Hospital).

While the GHS received life insurance cover of GHs20 million for 2,000 frontline staff working directly to combat the COVID-19, the NMIMR was given GH?60,000 to purchase testing kits, with the Ridge Hospital getting GHs40,000 to purchase medical equipment and consumables.

Collaboration

Presenting the cheques to the beneficiary institutions in Accra, the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of the EGL, Mr Daniel Larbi-Tieku, said the management of the pandemic required collaboration among stakeholders.

"The virus has spread its infectious tentacles to every part of the world, impacting negatively on human health across continents. As a country, while we pray for those who are affected, we also pray that we will be spared a visit by this virus.

“Unfortunately, however, Ghana has now recorded a few more cases of COVID-19.

Although the virus was declared a global pandemic by the World Health Organisation (WHO) in early March, reality has now dawned on us all with the confirmation of some recorded cases in Ghana," he said.

Action

Mr Larbi-Tieku said it was clear that fervent action was needed to manage the spread of the virus in the country, adding: "The nature and spread of the virus place a responsibility on us all as Ghanaians to, in our own small ways, support ongoing global and national efforts at managing the spread."

He explained that it was for that reason that the EGL decided to step up efforts and support the country's healthcare system to fight the virus.

"It is our hope that this action will represent a call to all to take similar steps to help our healthcare system make the necessary preparations in response to this onslaught.

"We at the Enterprise Group have taken serious precautionary measures to ensure that all our staff and customers are protected against the virus,” he added.

Appreciation

On behalf of the beneficiary institutions, the Deputy Director-General of the GHS, Dr Anthony Ofosu, said the insurance package had come at an opportune time to motivate the frontline staff who were directly involved in handling of the cases.

“The burning issue on the table now is how to motivate frontline staff working directly to combat the COVID-19. This is a gap the EGL has come to fill and we are most grateful,” he said.

He urged other corporate bodies to emulate the EGL gesture to help curb the spread of the virus.

The Head of Virology at the NMIMR, Prof. William Ampofo, said the money would be used to prepare the institute to handle suspected cases of the COVID-19.