Kick Frontiers Health Care Services out of Kotoka – Minority MPs tell Akufo-Addo
The Member of Parliament for North Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa Frontiers Health Care Services who are in charge of the mandatory covid testing at the Kotoka International Airport out following the announcement that fully inoculated persons will not be required to take the test again.
He indicated that after the government announced an easing of Covid-19 restrictions in his address, it did not specifically state its arrangement with Frontiers Health Services.
This development for him and his Minority caucus means the intention of the government to keep the company at KIA to conduct further tests that they are not in support of.
“In the president’s address to the nation, he did not inform us clearly what happens to Frontiers Healthcare Services Ltd. at the airport. It appears to us that that whole extortionist machinery is still in the place where they will be charging $50 and $150 where persons are unvaccinated. We want clarity,” he said.
it will be recalled that President Akufo-Addo on Sunday announced the easing of some Covid-19 restrictions.
Amongst the decisions, he said “From 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. They will undergo an antigen test upon arrival at KIA, and will be offered vaccination there.”
Per rules regarding the testing regime at the airport, ECOWAS citizens are required to take a test for $50 and $150 for non-ECOWAS citizens which have stirred up great controversy with the minority in parliament leading a crusade for the abrogation of the contract with the service provider.
Deeming the testing regime as “extortionist,” the Minority had decided to picket at the airport on Wednesday, March 30, 2022, to force the cancellation of the testing fee. The planned picketing has now been suspended.
For Mr Ablakwa and the Minority, the demand is that the company completely halts its work at the airport. “We are clear in our mind that it is unacceptable [for them to continue] and the president should have expressly stated that they must close shop and leave. We do not see any space for them as we speak.”
Mr Ablakwa also noted that the Minority has tabled a number of questions in parliament for the transport minister to answer on the subject.
