Akufo-Addo subtly defends Frontiers Health Services in an address to the nation
After appeals from the Minority Caucus of Parliament and their threats to picket at the Kotoka International Airport over the Covid-19 antigen test cost, President Akufo-Addo while delivering an address to Ghanaians on 27th March 2022 decided to adjust things a bit by declaring that fully vaccinated travellers will no longer need an antigen test.
However, for travellers not fully vaccinated, they will still have to be tested on arrival.
“From tomorrow, Monday, 28th March, fully vaccinated travellers into Ghana will not take PCR tests from the country of embarkation to allow them entry into the country through the KIA, and will not be tested on arrival. Citizens and foreign residents in Ghana, who are not fully vaccinated, would, however, need to provide a negative PCR test result of not more than 48-hours, will undergo an antigen test upon arrival at KIA, and will be offered vaccination there,” Akufo-Addo said on Sunday.
Government sought the services of Frontiers Healthcare Solution Services Limited to conduct the rapid Covid-19 tests at KIA following the reopening of the airport to international passenger flights in September 2020.
Initially, the 30-minute PCR Covid-19 was pegged at a $150 fee but was subsequently reviewed.
Those from any of the West African countries were to pay $50 for such services at Kotoka International Airport while the amount was maintained for non-ECOWAS citizens,
“It is worth noting that the establishment of the Covid-19 testing infrastructure at the Kotoka International Airport by Frontier Healthcare Services Ltd, at its own cost, has been key to our ability to limit successfully the importation of the virus into Ghana through the airport. The efficacy of the testing regime at KIA has won global admiration and has been applauded by all those who have undergone its testing. It has been one of the reasons why Ghana was not at the receiving end of several of the travel bans imposed by the West at the height of the pandemic, for which many African countries were affected,” Akufo-Addo said in a subtle defence of the Minority’s attack of the charges by the company.
