Russia’s RDIF sovereign wealth fund said on Saturday that Ghana had granted emergency authorisation for the use of the Sputnik V vaccine against COVID-19, becoming the 31st country to do so, and the fifth African state.

The Russian vaccine was approved by the West African country’s health ministry, the Russian Direct Investment Fund said in a statement.

Ghana's national death toll is now 568.

Also, 418 new cases were recently confirmed, according to the Ghana Health Service.

The number of active cases has fallen from 7,931 to 7,773.

Since mid-March 2020, Ghana has recorded a total of 78,689 cases with 70,348 recoveries.

Regional breakdown

Greater Accra Region - 45,616

Ashanti Region - 13,890

Western Region - 4,595

Eastern Region - 3,454

Central Region - 2,736

Volta Region - 1,458

Bono East Region - 972

Upper East Region - 896

Northern Region - 877

Bono Region - 865

Western North Region - 773

Ahafo Region - 645

Upper West Region - 328

Oti Region - 260

Savannah Region - 72

North East Region - 61