Ghana President Snubs Guinea Ministers Over Ebola

Ghanaian President John DramaniMahama declined to shake hands with Guinean ministers – apparently over fears of Ebola – during a recent visit to the small West African nation.



Mahama, who heads the rotating chairmanship of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), arrived in Guinean capital Conakry on Monday.



Upon his arrival, he shook hands with Guinean President Alpha Conde and the latter's diplomatic staff at the airport, but declined to shake hands with cabinet ministers.



Later, he inspected measures being adopted by the Guinean government aimed at fighting Ebola before returning home.



In recent months, Ebola – a contagious disease for which there is no known treatment or cure – has claimed more than 2,400 lives in West Africa, according to the World Health Organization.



The tropical fever, which first appeared in 1976 in Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo, can be transmitted to humans from wild animals.



It also reportedly spreads through contact with the body fluids of infected persons or of those who have succumbed to the disease.



By Mamadou Boussouriou Bah



englishnews@aa.com.tr



www.aa.com.tr/en - Conakry