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The government has begun stakeholder engagements on potential post-COVID-19 restriction measures to ensure the safety of citizens while allowing economic activities.

To carry out this, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo had engaged with the Association of Ghana Industries (AGI), the Education Community, the Transport sector operators, the Sporting Community, the Employers Association and the faith-based organizations.

The aforementioned stakeholders have submitted proposals on safety measures in the event of the lifting of restrictions to the government and are currently under consideration.

Information Minister Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, giving an update on government stakeholder engagements on measures to ease restrictions at a media briefing, said the engagements did not mean that their proposals had been accepted, but just for post restriction scenario.

"The fact that you're being engaged does not mean the proposals that came from you have been accepted or the restrictions have been amended or lifted.

"The restrictions remain in full force and offenders will be arrested and prosecuted. The engagement is for post restriction scenario and should be clearly understood, "the Minister emphasised.

Giving further explanation on the President's engagement with members of AGI, the Minister said the discussions focused on workplace safety measures that would be enforced when restrictions are lifted, without compromising the health of workers and the population.

With the Education Community, the discussions focused on safety etiquette students, teachers, lecturers, and staff should adhere to in schools and universities should they re-open.

In the transport sector, the discussions primarily focused on ensuring compliance and safety in public transport, especially wearing face masks and observing social/physical distancing on commercial vehicles to prevent the spread of the virus.

The Sporting Community came up with proposals, especially on organising football and golfing activities to ensure the safety of players, golfers, officiators, and spectators at the various playing grounds without compromising the health of the population.

The faith-based organizations brought proposals on religious activities in the various churches and mosques.

The Minister said the government in the coming weeks would continue engagement with other groups to consider their proposals, all geared towards easing of post-COVID-19 restrictions and allowing economic activities to go on without compromising the health of the population.

The government began enforcing various restrictions from March 15, 2020 after the country recorded its first two cases of the novel Coronavirus on March 12.

The restrictions included the closure of the country's entry points, ban on travellers coming from countries that had recorded 200 or more COVID-19 cases, mounting of screening stations at the airports and border posts, and mandatory quarantine of persons who came from abroad.

Meanwhile, Ghana's COVID-19 case count has hit 5,530, with 674 recoveries and 24 deaths as of Thursday, May 14, 2020.