From next Monday, Ghana will vaccinate returning citizens and residents against COVID-19 at the airport, the Director-General of the Ghana Health Service, Patrick Kuma-Aboagye, has said.
The announcement comes amid concerns about low vaccination take-up.
According to Kuma-Aboagye, all Ghanaians leaving the country must also show proof of vaccination, citing an increase in cases of COVID-19 and the presence of the Omicron variant.
Data showed that Ghana has administered vaccines to about 5.7% of its 30-million-strong population so far.
Its newly announced vaccination requirements are among the most strict in Africa, where supply and logistics have hampered vaccine uptake.
“The current increase in cases, together with the detection of the Omicron variant among international arrivals and the expected increase during the festive season, calls for urgent actions to prevent a major surge in COVID-19 cases in Ghana,” Kuma-Aboagye said in his statement, released late last week.
Government employees, health workers, and students will be required to receive the vaccine from Jan. 22. Find out more.
From January, proof of vaccination will also be required to access night clubs, beaches, sports stadiums, and restaurants.
Kotoka International Airport recorded about 60% of all COVID-19 infections in Ghana over the last two weeks, according to Kuma-Aboagye.
Those who tested positive at the airport were three times more likely to be unvaccinated, he said. In 34 cases where the Omicron variant was detected, 75% of the patients were unvaccinated.
Since the COVID-19 pandemic began in Ghana, the health service has recorded 131,246 cases and 1,228 deaths.