Ghana has not detected any case of the new COVID-19 variant Omicron, the Ghana Health Service (GHS) has disclosed.

Omicron was first detected by South African scientists.

It has been found in several countries around the world.

Speaking at a press conference in Accra on Sunday, 28 November 2021, the Director-General of the GHS, Dr Patrick Kuma-Aboagye, urged Ghanaians to continue observing the COVID-19 safety protocols.

He said there has been no evidence that Omicron is transmitted through any new means.

Dr Kuma-Aboagye further assured Ghanaians that the government, together with other stakeholders, will ensure that the enforcement of the safety protocols is tightened to forestall an upsurge in cases.  

“Omicron: we have not identified one in Ghana”, he told journalists.

“All people who have tested positive at the airport are sequenced; their samples are sequenced. We also pick samples from our reference labs across the country to do sequencing”, he said.

“Currently, they have a bunch of about 160 which they’re working but there’s been no indication of Omicron in Ghana”.

“So, all those messages flying around, it’s not true. There’s no case in Ghana.”

Meanwhile, the government has declared the month of December as a month of vaccination against COVID-19.

The December vaccination is to ensure a prevention of a fourth wave.

It will target specific venues and groups.

Unvaccinated persons will be denied entry into sports stadia, restaurants, beaches, among others.

Dr Kuma-Aboagye noted: “We are declaring December as a month of vaccination and it will be launched by the Minister on Tuesday”.

“This mandate will be applicable in January and this mandate will become effective.”

Security personnel, staff of tertiary and secondary institutions, commercial drivers and bus conductors, government workers, the various arms of government and health workers are all expected to be vaccinated in December.