The wife of the Vice President, Mrs. Matilda Amissah-Arthur, has said her decision not to shake hands with Chiefs and residents in Ketu-North District in the Volta region was part of measures to educate the public on their protection from Ebola and Cholera.
“I’m not saying that there is Cholera or Ebola here, I’m saying that we as people who are teachers, traditional leaders and who are priests should set the pace and let the children and the community know.”
Citi News‘ Volta Regional correspondent King Norbet Akpablie reported that Chiefs and townspeople present at a mini durbar organized to donate books and stationery to basic schools in Dzodze Ablorme were surprised when Madam Amissah-Arthur declined handshakes from the chiefs.
However, she defended her decision saying, “When we came we did not [shake hands], we waved. We did so because, I’m trying wherever I go to let people know that the time for shaking hands is past. With cholera, with Ebola, with all these diseases we have to change the way we do things.”
Over 100 people have died from cholera across the country while nearly 5000 people have died since the start of the year from Ebola in West Africa.
In August, the Ghana Medical Association (GMA) advised Ghanaians to avoid handshakes to protect them from contracting the Ebola virus.
Madam Amissah Arthur reiterated the call by advising the public to desist from handshakes at gatherings as a preventive measure for Ebola.
