The COVID-19 outbreak, a pandemic that brought so many unprecedented decisions of the government of Ghana and the world at large, was the topic of discussion for the latter days of 2019 and the whole of 2020 and even till now. The government of Ghana just like that of other countries put so many measures in place to curb the spread of the virus. Most especially, guarding us against those that were coming from outside the country. Some borders were closed as a result and very stringent checks were put in place at the borders that were accessible.
At the national airport, Kotoka International Airport (KIA), COVID-19 tests were carried out for all those that were coming from other countries for business, vacations and other reasons as a way to reduce the spread of the virus, carried by the people entering Ghana through the airport.
The former president, H.E John Dramani Mahama brought up a debate, highlighting the irrelevance of the of the compulsory COVID-19 test that goes on at the Kotoka International Airport for travellers patronizing the airport. The director of Public Health at the Ghana Health Service (GHS), Dr Franklin Asiedu- Bekoe in contact with TV3 following H.E Dramani’s claims, said;
“what is good is that the disease burden on either side of the borders is not high. So, if you open the borders, I don’t think it will cause a lot of problems for any of the countries.”
The former president asked the government to put an end to the $50 taken from all those that went through the system that are already vaccinated. The government also took the PCR tests of travellers before they are allowed to board flights to Ghana.
H.E. John Dramani Mahama in a post on Facebook last Saturday, March 19, stated, “I travelled to London on British Airways. I was pleasantly surprised when I was informed that I did not require a COVID-19 PRC test to board a flight. While I was still required to fill out a locator form, no further tests were required of me for the 12days I stayed in the UK. Imagine my shock when British Airways informed me that I would be required to take a PCR test before I am allowed to board on my return flight home. They explained that this is because of the regulations in Ghana. It cost £90 to have the test done.”
The former President comparing the situation in Ghana and that of Britain has called on the government to consider the protocols and systems at the KIA and take off some of the requirements in travelling through the national airport, as he thinks it’s unfair on the side of the travellers that use the airport frequently.
Is this call going to bring about the scrapping off of the COVID-19 testing requirements at the KIA?