The Ghana Ports and Harbour Authority (GPHA) has reacted to allegations of crew members of shipping lines arriving at the nation’s seaports not being tested for Covid-19.
The Authority’s response follows assertions made by the Ranking Member of the Parliamentary Select Committee on Health, Hon. Kwabena Mintah Akandoh.
In a press statement issued on Wednesday, May 5, the GPHA described the assertions made by Mr Akandoh as “factually inaccurate”, stating that, prior to the virus being declared a pandemic, it had already put in place measures to check the importation of the virus into the country through the various ports.
“A multi-stakeholder Covid 19 committee was instituted at the beginning of the year 2020 when news of the then epidemic started even before it became a pandemic and national protocols were put in place,” stated the GPHA.
“The committee has consistently operated to provide the regulations to the Port Community even before the first partial lockdown was imposed,” the Authority added.
GPHA further noted in its release that, all shipping lines operating at the nation’s ports adhere strictly to the mandatory procedures for the reception of vessels and handling of crew embarkation and disembarkation at the ports which include the testing of crew members for the Covid-19 virus.
“There are very clear and mandatory procedures for the reception of vessels and handling of crew embarkation and disembarkation in Ghana, which all shipping lines and the Port Community is apprised of and are adhering to. In this regard ship crew either embarking or disembarking vessels go through stated Covid 19 protocols. These protocols have long been in force since March 2020 and have been updated when required based on presidential directives,” read part of the press release.
According to the GPHA, some 768 crew members have so far been tested for the virus out of which 14 crew members have tested positive.
Read below details of press release:
Press Release by Fuaad Dodoo on Scribd
