Finance Ministry directs staff to work from home amid Covid-19 fears

All staff of the Ministry of Finance have been directed to work from home following mass testing for  coronavirus conducted on them. “While we await the testing team to compile the comprehensive results, all staff are to work from home effective immediately,” a memo sighted by editors.3news.com said. “Staff who test positive will be duly informed and will receive the necessary care from the appropriate health authorities designated by the Ministry of Health. “In addition, the necessary contact-tracing will be undertaken by the appropriate authorities,” the memo issued by the Chief Director, Patrick Nomo, to all staff on Tuesday said. This comes in the wake of increased infections at work places. Already, the Ministry of Employment and Labour Relations has constituted a task force to go around institutions and firms across the country in order to enforce the Covid-19 preventive measures. The temporary shutdown of the Ministry of Finance comes a few days to the presentation of the mid-year budget review by the sector minister, Ken Ofori-Atta. But the memo assured that there is no cause for alarm. “In view of the preparations towards the Mid-Year Review of the Budget, a core team of staff will work from approved locations to complete the Mid-Year Review. “All other staff will work from home using the Ministry’s approved digital channels.” The Ministry assured staff that their safety and health is of utmost interest “and will continue to ensure adherence to the protocols while carrying out our mandate”. So far, the country has recorded 21,968 cases of coronavirus as of Tuesday, July 7. Source: editors.3news.com|Ghana