Zoomlion Ghana Limited in collaboration with the Government of Ghana has showcased its state of the art equipments in the preparation for another round of the nationwide disinfection of schools/
The one-day exhibition programme, which came off at the Independence Square in Accra on Monday, was on the theme; “Making Ghana Safer and Healthier.”
It was aimed at demonstrating the preparedness of Zoomlion and its partners to continue with the battle against the virus.
On display were the company’s fleet of disinfection equipment and a parade of some military and police personnel.
The equipment included 50 atomizers, 10 street sweepers, 5,000 motorised spraying machines, 5,000 Knapsack sprayers, 100 drones and 5,000 handheld thermal foggers.
President Nana Akufo Addo in his 20th covid-19 address to the nation directed that schools from kindergarten, primary and junior high schools be thoroughly disinfected before resumption from the 15th of January, 2020.
The showcasing of the equipments at the Independence Square in Accra forms part of the Information Minister’s Covid-19 Press Briefing which is line with the President’s directive and government’s preparedness to curb the spread of the Covid-19 virus.
In his speech, the Minister for Information Kojo Oppong Nkrumah emphasized that government is committed to combating the covid-19 pandemic and nipping it in the bud hence the showcasing of the equipment and human resources by ZGL through government.
He said, “Government will be outlining measures to step up the pandemic ahead of the re-opening of schools and today’s engagement is one of the engagements government will be having to step up efforts in fighting the pandemic”.
On her part the Minister for Sanitation and Water Resources Madam Cecilia Abena Dapaah commended ZGL for investing heavily in both machinery and human resource in order to execute their mandate.
“We stand in solidarity with Zoomlion and ESPA members to take up this task” , she said.
Madam Dapaah later commended the President for showing compassion by extending the free water to the life line vulnerable.
She added that “with all the efforts being put in place Ghana will surely defeat this pandemic”.
The Managing Director (MD) of Zoomlion Ghana Limited (ZGL), Madam Gloria Anti, assured government of her outfit’s continuous support in the country’s quest to curb the pandemic.
According to her, Zoomlion had purchased modern state-of-the-art machinery to carry out both disinfection and fumigation activities aimed at tackling the virus in the country.
She said with the machinery purchased, the company was ready to assist the government deal with the virus.
“As part of our commitment in supporting government to tackle vectors, an association has been formed. The association, Pests and Vectors Association of Ghana (PEVAG) will support government in dealing with disease-causing vectors in whatever form they can,” she stressed.
Madam Anti used the opportunity to praise stakeholders who supported in previous phases of the national disinfection and fumigation exercises.
She pointed out that without the support of the stakeholders, the exercise would not have been successful.
The Zoomlion MD further disclosed that aside from their modern machinery they also have a workforce that was capable of carrying out any exercise that would be assigned to it.
“We also have a workforce of seven thousand (7,000) who are well trained to carry out disinfection and fumigation operations.
The Minister for Education, Dr Mathew Opoku Prempeh expressed optimism that the disinfection exercise ahead of the schools re-opening would go a long way to ensure safety in the schools.
“We hope that partnering with Zoomlion and its partners, the work will be nearly done and we can all be free from covid”.
As part of measures to ensure the schools environment is safe for pupils and students who are returning to school this month, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has directed that all schools be disinfected and fumigated.
In this regard, the next phase of disinfection to pave way for the re-opening is expected to commence this week where schools across the country would be disinfected by Zoomlion and its partners in collaboration with the Ministry of Education.
The exercise is expected to be completed before the re-opening date of 15th January, 2021.
Story: Eric Boateng/www.radiogoldlive.com
