President Akufo-Addo has stated that government will maintain the mandatory 3-day PCR test period for travellers coming into the country.

Owing to the fact that Covid-19 is an imported disease, the President believes it is imperative that the strictest of measures are maintained, in order to prevent its entry into the country.

During his 18th address to the nation on Covid-19 preventive measures, Akufo-Addo stated that this will also help to protect the country from the second wave of infections as has been experienced in Europe and America.

“I believe, in the context of the second wave of infections that is engulfing so many countries of Europe and America, that we have to insist on the three (3) day period. It is better to be safe than sorry."

Contrary to suggestions that the 3-day PCR negative test period be extended to 5, the President believes that it is best for the country to err on the side of caution so as to further reduce the infection rate of the virus in the country.

This comes 6 weeks after the Kotoka International Airport was reopened to international travel after being closed at the beginning of the pandemic in March.

In his 16th address to the nation, President Akufo-Addo announced that the decision to re-open the airport was possible because public health officials had developed rapid tests that would enable positive cases that may be imported into the country to be recognized and isolated.

Passengers were mandated to take a PCR test before boarding a flight into the country and take another test on arrival.

The testing, the government said, was to ensure all grounds are covered to avoid the increased spread of Coronavirus cases in the country.

During the 18th address, Sunday, President Akufo-Addo stated that the PCR test has allowed the country to screen over 30,564 passengers out of which 92 asymptomatic persons tested positive for the virus.

He assured Ghanaians of his continuous commitment to “limiting and stopping the importation of the virus, containing its spread, providing adequate care for the sick and slowing down community spread."

He also promised to reduce the impact of the virus on social and economic life.

The government will be "using the opportunity afforded by this pandemic to expand our domestic production capacity, and deepen our self-reliance. I remain committed to these objectives, and I will not stray from them,” he added.