The locally-made nose masks were made from local fabrics and approved by the Food and Drugs Authority and the Ghana Standards Authority through the Akosombo Textile Limited to complement earlier donations by the tourism industry to ensure the observation of the COVID-19 safety protocols.

Mr Galo Rivera, ABL Country Director said the Company had earlier procured 15,000 nose masks which were distributed to other beneficiaries and had to present an additional 3,000 to the Ministry for onward distribution to the local restaurants linked to the Tourism industry.

He said the donation seeks to help the beneficiaries to observe the safety protocols as the country learns to live with the virus and avoid any further infections in the country, which may come through the activities of the industry.

Mrs Barbra Oteng-Gyasi, the Minister of Tourism, commended the Company for the gesture although the industry had been severely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and to a large extent, the ABL.

She said: "I know your business has been affected but you have been able to produce these nose masks to support our sector...This is a demonstration that you are not only here to do business but you are also a good corporate citizen."

She said it was important the industry worked together to overcome the pandemic so that the activities of the industry, which largely thrives on the social gathering, could be restored to normalcy.

Mrs Oteng-Gyasi said the donation had come at an opportune time when the industry was looking forward to the easing up of the restrictions to allow some of the operators to do their business.

She said the nose masks would be passed on to the Ghana Tourism Authority, who would then distribute to all local restaurants, drinking spots among others.