President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has announced that Ghana’s International Airport will be reopened on Tuesday, September 1 after five months of shutdown as part of measures to slow the spread of COVID-19.
In an address to the nation on Sunday, the president stated that the time is right to reopen the Kotoka International Airport. He added that enough measures have been put in place to prevent a second wave of the deadly virus in the country.
“In Update No.15, I announced the easing of restrictions in some areas of national life. I also indicated my hope that preparations and simulation exercises underway, including the installation of COVID-19 testing facilities at Kotoka International Airport, would give us a clear indication as to whether or not we could re-open the airport on 1st September. After weeks of thorough work, I am satisfied that it is safe to do so.
“Fellow Ghanaians, 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.
“It has been well-established that the very first cases of COVID-19 in Ghana were imported into our shores. We are determined to make sure this scenario does not recur. 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 added “that is why the following measures have been taken and duly communicated to airlines wishing to 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 aeroplane, 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.”
