Charging Arriving Passengers US$150 Over Covid-19 Is Fair – Deputy Health Minister

Deputy Health Minister, Dr. Bernard Okoe Boye, has parried an allegation that the government is taking undue advantage of the Covid-19 pandemic to milk people who travel into the country from Tuesday, when the Kotoka International Airport opens for international traffic.

Former Communications Minister, Dr. Edward Omane Boamah and several critics have raised concerns that the US$150 per passenger for PCR tests is on the high side for travellers. 

But the Deputy Health Minister has dismissed the criticisms, saying other countries like Togo, Benin, Nigeria and Zimbabwe are even charging higher than the US$150 that Ghana is charging.

“So with all these considerations, remember that anyone coming to Ghana must have a negative PCR test,” he stated.

 “why charge 150 dollars for PCR at the airport when it costs below $100. Don’t cash in on Covid-19” Dr. Omane Boamah wrote.

Meanwhile, the government has said that all the necessary things have been put in place to open Kotoka to traffic from tomorrow.

There is a digitise health declaration form that people can fill, so passengers can complete that in the plane before they arrive at the airport. This will tell us [health workers] the risk level for us to know how to properly access it.

“The mandatory Covid-19 test on arrival as President said will also be done and by the time you go through all of that and get down to the Immigration your results will be out for them to also process you and allow you in [the country]” said Dr. Patrick Kumah Aboagye, Director General of the Ghana Health Service.

He said that flight crew will not be subjected to compulsory testing unless they are entering the country. And for those who test positive for COvid-19, “the port health will take over to assist you through the immigration so as to prevent further contamination.”