Ghana imposes restrictions on travellers from China for COVID-19

Ghana has announced new COVID-19 restrictions on Chinese travellers intending to enter the country.

The restrictions will come into force from January 6, 2023, the Ghana Airports Company Limited announced on its website on Tuesday.

The updated COVID-19 guidelines by the GACL noted that all international passengers, including those from the Economic Community of West African States region, must complete a Port Health Declaration Form before boarding flight to Ghana.

The 15 members of the ECOWAS are Benin, Burkina Faso, Cabo Verde, Cote d’Ivoire, The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, and Togo.

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.”

The COVID-19 update also noted that all arriving will undergo temperature screening, yellow fever card verification, and COVID-19 vaccination certificate verification as required.

It said that passengers transiting and transferring through KIA will be required to fully adhere to COVID-19 testing requirements at the destination countries.

It, however, added that children less than 18 years of age are exempt from mandatory vaccination, pre-departure PCR testing, and testing on arrival in Ghana.

“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.

(Punch)