Zoomlion Ghana Limited (ZGL) on behalf of the Ghana Electrical Dealers Association (GEDA) on Wednesday morning undertook a disinfection exercise at Opera Square, Accra, also known as Cowlane.
With the help of its boom atomizer, a disinfection crew with knapsack spraying machines, Zoomlion disinfected the two lorry terminals at the Opera Square area including about 400 shops and stores at Opera Square, open spaces along the Old AMA traffic light, Judicial Service, the Ghana Post Office, and the Rawlings Park areas, and the Cowlane Central Mosque.
Speaking to a cross-section of journalists after the exercise, the 2nd Vice-Chair, GEDA, Hajia Muina Buari, explained GEDA engaged Zoomlion to undertake the exercise in order to protect their members and also keep their customers safe from the Covid-19 pandemic.
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She added that before the partial lockdown, members of GEDA were religiously implementing the preventive protocols. “Before the announcement of the partial lockdown in some parts of the country, GEDA had ensured that all its members religiously implemented the Covid-19 preventive protocols. All shops/stores under our umbrella association were to have Veronica buckets together with liquid soaps and alcohol-based sanitisers to be used by them and their customers. And, I must confess that our members have fully complied with these protocols,” she said.
The 2nd vice-chair of GEDA, however, indicated that effective Thursday, June 25, the association will enforce the wearing of face masks. “Any member who fails to comply with this directive would not be allowed to trade in the area!” she cautioned.
She however lamented that the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic has drastically slowed down their business. “Business has been very slow because a lot more people now do not come to trade with us due to Covid-19,” she said.
She added that members of GEDA had also not been able to import electrical materials from China because of travel restrictions imposed by both China and Ghana which is greatly affecting their business operations.
To alleviate their plight, Hajia Buari disclosed that the association has also put in a request for Covid-19 stimulus package for its members. “And if this package is made available to us, we believe it will cushion members of GEDA from the harsh brunt of the Covid-19 pandemic on our business,” Hajia Buari expressed.
The General Manager, Zoomlion Ghana Limited, Greater Accra Region, Ernest Morgan Acquah, on his part explained that the essence of the exercise was to keep the Opera Square which is the trading hub of GEDA members safe and clean from the attack of the Covid-19 disease.
He however cautioned that the disinfection was only one of the measures in the war against Covid-19. He therefore entreated members of GEDA and the general public to observe the other Covid-19 preventive protocols which included regular washing of hands under a running water, practising social/physical distancing and using alcohol-based hand sanitisers.
“The adherence of these protocols together with the disinfection will help protect GEDA members and its customers from the virus attack,” he advised.
Source: Kofi Ahovi//Businessweeekghana.com