The Hon. Volta Regional Minister, Dr. Archibald Yao Letsa together with the Vice Chancellor of the University of Health and Allied Sciences, Prof John Owusu Gyapong; Head of the COVID-19 Testing Centre, Ho, Dr. Deudu; and a Representative of the Volta and Oti Caucuses in Parliament, the Hon. Member of Parliament for Adaklu, Mr. Kwame Govern Agbodza, took delivery of State-of-the-art Testing and Research Equipment meant for the Ho COVID-19 Testing Centre. 

In a brief ceremony held in the Ministry of Health Conference Hall, Accra, the Hon. Minister for Health, Mr.  Kwaku Agyeman Manu (MP) presented the equipment to the Volta Regional Minister, Dr. Archibald Yao Letsa.

The equipment, PCR Real-time Machine with its accessories, was part of the logistical support the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in Viena gave to the Ghana Atomic Energy Commission (GAEC) which the Commission in turn presented to the Ministry of Health as support to the Ho COVID-19 Testing Centre.

Receiving the equipment, the Hon. Volta Regional Minister was elated and could not hide his gratitude to the Ministry of Health and the Ghana Atomic Energy Commission for the support. 

He stated without equivocation that with the new Testing and Research Equipment, the Ho COVID-19 Testing Centre could henceforth test two thousand three hundred (2300) samples within twenty-four (24) hours; hitherto, the Centre could only ran 100 to 300 samples within the said hrs.

He therefore saw the new equipment as a major boost to the Centre and places it in a position to serve parts of Greater Accra and Eastern Regions in addition to Volta and Oti Regions.

The Volta Regional Minister was grateful to the Chief Director of the Ministry of Health, Nana Agyei Mensah; and other Directors of the Ministry who were present.

He was equally and particularly grateful to the  Board Chairman of GAEC, Dr Kwaku Aning; Director General of GAEC, Prof. J.B. Nyarko;  Dep. Dir. General of GAEC, Prof. Shiloh Osae; Dir. of Space Science, Prof. Dickson Adomako; Acting Dir. of Administration GAEC, Mr. William Srekumah;  

President of the Research Scientists Association GAEC, Dr Adolf Kofi Awua; and Public Relations Officer GAEC, Mr. Mark Sarfo for their presence.

It is important to conclude that the Volta Region had recorded thirty-three (33) confirmed cases of the virus of which there had been twenty-eight (28) recoveries with no deaths, and five (5) patients who were responding to treatment at the COVID-19 Treatment Centre.

Foster Huno,

Public Relations Unit.