No fewer than 15 members of Ghanaian parliament and 56 staff members have contracted coronavirus, local media report quoting the speaker.

They returned positive tests following a recent round of testing, Speaker Alban Bagbin is quoted as saying in parliament on Thursday.

The infected lawmakers and staff have been asked to self-isolate while undergoing treatment, according to reports.

The speaker also said parliament will consequently only sit on Tuesdays and Thursdays from next week, with entry permitted to MPs and staff needed for the business of those days.

According to Citinewsroom site, there were complaints of some MPs dodging Covid-19 testing.

Ghana has so far recorded over 69,255 cases and 440 deaths since it reported its first case in March last year.