The Ghana Airport Company Limited (GACL) says effective January 6, 2023, passengers originating their journey from China will be required to present a valid negative COVID-19 PCR test result, 48 hours prior to departure from the originating country.
Those passengers from China will also be required to undergo mandatory COVID-19 testing on arrival at the Kotoka International Airport (KIA) at no cost.
The company said all other passengers originating their journey from elsewhere other than China [and not traveling from Ghana] vaccinated or unvaccinated would be required to present a valid negative COVID-19 PCR test result 48 hours prior to departure from the originating country.
“Such passengers will be required to undergo mandatory COVID-19 testing on arrival at the Kotoka International Airport at no cost,” it added.
GACL indicated that passengers may also be randomly selected and offered test-on-arrival and non-Ghanaians traveling to KIA with fake or forged vaccination certificates shall 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 as required. The GACL said children less than 18 years of age were exempted from mandatory vaccination.
According to the company all persons arriving in Ghana fully vaccinated would be exempted 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.
Airlines that brought passengers who were not fully vaccinated to KIA or passengers originating their journey from China without a valid negative COVID-19 PCR test result 48 hours prior to departure would be surcharged $3500, the company said.
It said passengers transiting and transferring through KIA would be required to fully adhere to COVID-19 testing requirements at the destination countries.
“Airline crews are exempted from the pre-departure and arrival COVID-19 testing and should follow the Airline policy for testing.”
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Also, passengers who arrived under emergency circumstances such as diverted flights would not be required to undergo testing if they did not leave the Airport or remained in isolation in their hotels.
On the matter of traveling with pets into Ghana, this is allowed in line with guidelines of the Veterinary Services Directorate of the Ministry of Food & Agriculture. The Company said passengers departing Accra would be required to adhere to COVID-19 testing requirements for the destination countries.
“Departing passengers will undergo temperature screening at the entrance of Terminal 3 departures and observe the wearing of nose mask,” it added.
A person is said to be fully vaccinated when he/she has taken the full dose of vaccines approved and registered by the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA), Ghana or other vaccines prequalified by WHO.
All international passengers, including those from the ECOWAS region, must complete a Port Health Declaration Form at www.ghs-hdf.org before embarkation of flight to Ghana.
Source: G.A.C.L.
Oral Ofori is Founder and Publisher at www.TheAfricanDream.net, a digital storyteller and producer, and also an information and research consultant.
