The Ghana Airports Company Limited (GACL)’s new directive for passengers arriving from China and other countries starts today, Friday, January 6. 

Passengers will be required to present a valid negative Covid-19 PCR test result, 48 hours prior to departure from the originating country.

Again, they will be required to undergo mandatory Covid-19 testing upon arrival at the Kotoka International Airport (KIA) at no cost.

Also, all other passengers from countries other than China, whether they are vaccinated or not would be required to present a valid negative Covid-19 PCR test result. The test should have been taken 48 hours prior to departure from the originating country.

Passengers may also be randomly selected and offered test on arrival and non-Ghanaians arriving at KIA with fake or forged vaccination certificates will be quarantined and returned to the point of embarkation at their own cost.

It said similarly, all arriving passengers would undergo temperature screening, Yellow Fever Card verification and Covid-19 vaccination certificate verification.

The GACL also said children less than 18 years old are exempted from the mandatory vaccination.

It also added that “all persons arriving in Ghana (citizens, residents, and visitors) who are fully vaccinated will be exempt from any form of testing done either prior to boarding from originating country or on arrival in Ghana except passengers originating their journey from China.”

Meanwhile, the KIA has warned that Airlines that bring in passengers who are not fully vaccinated would be fined $3500.

However, passengers transiting and transferring through KIA would be required to fully adhere to COVID-19 testing requirements at the destination countries. 

These directives are part of measures undertaken to ensure the country does not witness a spike in cases.