Ghana has announced new COVID-19 restrictions on Chinese travellers intending to enter the country.
According to a Tuesday announcement made on the Ghana Airports Company Limited website, the limits would be in effect starting January 6, 2023.
All international passengers, including those from the Economic Community of West African States region, are required to complete a Port Health Declaration Form prior to boarding an aircraft to Ghana, according to the GACL’s new COVID-19 rules.
Benin, Burkina Faso, Cabo Verde, Cote d’Ivoire, The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, and Togo are among the 15 nations that make up ECOWAS.
The guidelines which were posted on the GACL website read in part, “All persons arriving in Ghana (citizens, residents, and visitors) who are fully vaccinated will 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.
“Passengers originating their journey from China will be required to present valid negative COVID-19 PCR test result 48 hours prior to departure from originating country. In addition, such passengers will be required to undergo mandatory COVID-19 testing on arrival at the Kotoka International Airport at no cost.
“All other passengers originating their journey from elsewhere other than China (i.e Ghanaian citizens, permanent residents of Ghana or non-Ghanaians), who are partially vaccinated or unvaccinated, will be required to present a valid negative COVID-19 PCR test result 48 hours prior to departure from originating country. In addition, such passengers will be required to undergo mandatory COVID-19 testing on arrival at Kotoka International Airport at no cost.
“In addition to the above, passengers may be randomly selected and offered test on arrival.
“Non-Ghanaians travelling to Kotoka International Airport with fake or forged vaccination certificates shall be quarantined and returned to the point of embarkation at their cost.
“Airlines that bring passengers to Kotoka International Airport who are not fully vaccinated or passengers originating their journey from China without a valid negative COVID-19 PCR test result 48 hours prior to the departure would be surcharged $3500.”
All visitors will be subject to a temperature check, the verification of a yellow fever card, and the verification of a COVID-19 vaccination certificate, according to the COVID-19 update.
It stated that COVID-19 testing criteria in the destination nations would have to be fully complied with by travelers transiting and transferring through KIA.
However, it also stated that pre-departure PCR testing and testing upon arrival in Ghana are not required for children under the age of 18.
“Airline crew are exempted from the pre-departure and arrival COVID-19 testing and should follow the airline policy for testing.
“Passengers who arrive under emergency circumstances such as diverted flights will not be required to undergo testing if they do not leave the airport or remain in isolation in their hotel,” it added.