Passengers arriving in Ghana will have to pay the $150 for the mandatory COVID-19 test online effective Monday, 16 November 2020, while those who arrive without a PCR test will be fined $3,500 each, the management of the Kotoka International Airport has announced.
This follows a new set of guidelines released by the Ghana Airport Company (GACL).
According to the new guidelines, all international arrivals, including those from the ECOWAS region, will be required to meet the proposed health requirements prior to entry into the country.
“Passengers must not have symptoms suggestive of COVID-19, including body temperature >38 °C”, adding: “Passengers must possess a COVID-19 negative PCR test from an accredited laboratory in the country of origin; the test should have been done not more than 72 hours before the scheduled departure time from the country of origin; airlines who board passengers without PCR test result or transport or disembark passengers with positive PCR test result into Accra will be fined $3,500 per passenger,” the guidelines stated.
The Ghana Airport Company explained further that “non-Ghanaians may be refused entry and returned to the point of embarkation at a cost the airline” while Ghanaians will be allowed entry but subject to 14 days of mandatory quarantine at a designated location at the passenger’s cost.”
It, however, noted that: “Ghanaian residents, who depart Ghana and return within one week, will not be required to present a COVID-19 result from the country of departure. They will, however, undergo mandatory COVID-19 testing upon arrival in Ghana.”
Also, “passengers will be subjected to a mandatory COVID-19 test at the airport terminal at a cost of $150 to be borne by the passenger, to be paid online” and “proof of payment (receipt) shown to airline before boarding.”
It noted that airlines, who board passengers without proof of payment of the COVID-19 test fees “and would/could not pay for the test in Ghana, will be fined $3,500 per passenger”.
It added: “Children between the ages of 5 and 12 years will undergo testing on arrival free of charge” with children under 5 years not required to undergo testing at the Kotoka International Airport upon arrival.
Before the revision of the guidelines, passengers arriving in Ghana were expected to pay for the mandatory COVID-19 test on arrival at the Kotoka International Airport.
And children between the ages of 5 to 12 were previously exempted from the mandatory PCR testing.
