Members of the Contract Cleaners Association of Ghana (CCAG) have expressed shock over their exclusion from the list of persons exempted from restrictions in the ongoing partial lockdown in Greater Accra and Greater Kumasi Regions.
Ghana has recorded 152 confirmed cases of coronavirus with five (5) fatalities as of March 29, 2020.
President of Ghana Akufo-Addo on Friday night of March 27, 2020, announced partial lockdown of the Nation’s Capital-Accra and Parts of Ashanti Region as an enhanced measure to prevent increasing community spread having closed down all Borders -Land, sea and Air space.
The lockdown took effect last night.
According to the Contract Cleaners Association of Ghana (CCAG), as part of their duty and mandate to ensure cleanliness and good health for the good people of Ghana, “we revamped our efforts and reviewed our cleaning protocols in line with standards for combating the pandemic in Ghana. Accordingly, after the declaration of the lockdown by the President, the CCAG and its members had geared up, armed for the fight against COVID-19”.
However, “it comes as a shock to us that contract cleaners have been exempted from the list of services considered essential, who could be given the authorization to move around and provide support services during the lockdown. With some of our clients being service providers and industries deemed as essential, we fail to understand how they will be able to effectively and safely provide their services without providing a safe and disinfected environment for their activities”.
“We cringe at the endless possibilities of risk exposure that will be occasioned by not having professional cleaners at the respective workplaces, as faithful Ghanaians strive to deliver essential services during this critical time.”
Below is the Full Statement:
COVID-19: FROM THE LENS OF THE CONTRACT CLEANERS ASSOCIATION OF GHANA
Prior to the declaration of COVID-19 as a pandemic by the World Health Organization, one could attest to the harm and havoc wreaked by the virus, not only on China but on many superpowers across the globe. Frantic efforts are underway to find a vaccine, if not a cure, to deal with this deadly plague.
Noteworthy in this war to contain the virus are two measures – combat and defense measures. Until a vaccine is found, our combat measures are limited to efforts to prevent infection, including maintaining proper hand hygiene, a healthy immune system, social distancing and avoiding large gatherings, disinfecting and sanitizing surfaces and common touchpoints, etc. In defense are the health and medical practitioners who are the first line of an infection and treat victims after confirmation of tests.
The recognition of this dichotomy of containment measures by policymakers is crucial because of our weak and frail medical infrastructure. The health and medical professionals remain resolute in the frontline of defense, but if our combat preventive measures fail, they will be overwhelmed, and the situation will be chaotic.
Members of the Contract Cleaners Association of Ghana (CCAG) appreciate their role as forerunners in combat and have been committed to fighting this menace, cognizant of the fact that contact remains the big issue in the spread of the novel virus and as such proper professional cleaning and sanitizing contact surfaces is paramount.
As part of our duty and mandate to ensure cleanliness and good health for the good people of Ghana, we revamped our efforts and reviewed our cleaning protocols in line with standards for combating the pandemic in Ghana. Accordingly, after the declaration of the lockdown by the President, the CCAG and its members had geared up, armed for the fight against COVID-19.
However, it comes as a shock to us that contract cleaners have been exempted from the list of services considered essential, who could be given the authorization to move around and provide support services during the lockdown. With some of our clients being service providers and industries deemed as essential, we fail to understand how they will be able to effectively and safely provide their services without providing a safe and disinfected environment for their activities. We cringe at the endless possibilities of risk exposure that will be occasioned by not having professional cleaners at the respective workplaces, as faithful Ghanaians strive to deliver essential services during this critical time.
We have the expertise and we know what goes into proper disinfection of surfaces to ensure that we provide a safe working environment for staff. What if an essential staff is infected and leaves droplets on shared surfaces? What if other essential staff touches the same surfaces?
The situation that is likely to result is one that is very chaotic and spells doom in the combat against COVID-19. We, therefore, appeal to policymakers to recognize the significance of the cleaning industry as an essential part of the national responses to the unprecedented challenges presented by COVID-19.
We remain committed to the fight against COVID-19 and would like to appeal to the government and the relevant authorities to reconsider their stance on leaving professional cleaners out of the services considered essential for the period of the lockdown if we really want to fight this menace with the right arsenal.
ABOUT CCAG
The Contract Cleaners Association of Ghana (CCAG) is an Association of reputable Cleaning Companies in Ghana. The principal objective of CCAG is the establishment and maintenance of minimum standards within the cleaning industry in Ghana, with the dual aim of safeguarding the reputation of the industry and protecting the customers, whether in the domestic or commercial environment.
SAMMY LAING, CHAIRMAN
Source: Mybrytfmonline/Obed Ansah
