Eighteen people have died from the deadly coronavirus in the Ashanti Region alone out of the total of 38 deaths recorded nationwide.

The region also has 1,342 cases of the disease out of the 8,548 recorded nationwide.

Regional Minister Simon Osei-Mensah said this at the launch of anti-stigma campaign on COVID-19 in Kumasi today, Wednesday, 3 June 2020.

The campaign against the stigmatisation of people living with the deadly coronavirus was launched by the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA).

Mr Osei-Mensah called for a stop to stigmatisation against people living with the pandemic and advised Ghanaians to adhere to the safety protocols to protect themselves from the disease.

Otumfuo's Manwerehene, Baffour Osei Hyiaman Brantuo VI, also advised people in the region to desist from stigmatising those who have recovered from the virus.