Ghana’s Kotoka International Airport (KIA) will reopen to travellers and allow citizens and permanent residents to travel in and out of the country from September 1, 2020.
President Akufo-Addo made the disclosure during his 16th COVID-19 update on Sunday, August 30, 2020, adding that the decision has been duly communicated to the various international airlines.
The West African nation is gradually lifting restrictions imposed to control the pandemic as the number of recoveries declines.
“I am glad to announce that Kotoka International Airport will reopen and resume operations from Tuesday, 1st September 2020. This decision has been communicated to international airlines”, said Mr. Akufo-Addo.
“The commitment to ensuring that the gradual easing of restrictions, including the reopening of our airports, does not lead to the importation or resurgence of the virus into our country, is firmly in place”, the President further assured.
Safety measures at the Airport
Meanwhile, the President in his speech outlined a number of measures being taken as various airlines resume flights to Ghana.
a) any passenger arriving in Ghana must be in possession of a negative COVID-19 PCR test result from an accredited laboratory in the country of origin. The test should have been done not more than seventy-two (72) hours before the scheduled departure from the country of origin. All airlines have been instructed to ensure compliance with this directive for all passengers wishing to travel to Ghana, and those airlines who fail in this regard will be duly sanctioned;
b) disembarking passengers must do so wearing face masks;
c) upon disembarking from the airplane, each passenger will undergo a mandatory COVID-19 test at the airport terminal, at a fee to be borne by the passenger. The test result will be available within thirty (30) minutes;
d) children under the ages of five (5) will not be required to undergo testing at the airport;
e) passengers, who test positive for COVID-19, will be handled by the health authorities for further clinical assessment and management; and
f) passengers, who test negative, can, thereupon, enter Ghana to go about their lawful activities, and will be advised to continue to observe COVID-19 safety precautions during their stay in Ghana.
“The Ministries of Information, Health and Aviation, and their respective agencies – the Ghana Health Service, the Ghana Airports Co. Ltd., and the Ghana Civil Aviation Authority – will spell out in further detail the protocols surrounding the re-opening of our international airport, and the procedures to be adhered to by passengers arriving in Ghana at the COVID-19 media briefing tomorrow, Monday, 31st August”, the President noted.
Source: Daily Mail GH
Email Daily Mail GH: stories@dailymailgh.com or
Whatsapp: +233(0)509928122
