Religious organizations and social event organizers in Ghana will now be required to download a new app, known as PANABIOS (Pan African Bio Surveillance Application) to enable the government to monitor their compliance with conditions put in place for the resumption of religious gatherings and other events.
The new app, which is expected to be in the various app stores for downloads on Wednesday can keep track of events and details of persons attending.
Addressing the media in Accra, the Minister of Communication Ursula Owusu-Ekuful noted that for the collective peace of mind, every event needs to keep an accurate register of everyone who attends those functions so that when needed it can be provided to the health authorities.
According to her the PANABIOS app is “to help us stay compliant with all of these [conditions for resuming certain public gatherings].”
Ghana’s President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo announced his government review of social gathering protocols in the country. The effect of the review meant that religious gatherings, burials and weddings, among others, can resume partially under strict conditions.
The unveiling of this new event register app brings to two the number of apps introduced by the government of Ghana during the coronavirus pandemic.
GH COVID-19 tracker App was the first to be launched by the Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia during the early part of April this year and was aimed at enabling individuals to access and provide basic information to contact tracers to facilitate easy tracing, testing and treatment of the respiratory disease.
Developed by the Ministries of Communication and Health, the Tracker is aiding health authorities in Ghana to identify high-risk communities and prioritize contact tracing and testing to prevent further spread of the virus.
