Minority MPs to picket at Kotoka Airport in government fails to scrap Covid-19 testing charges
Minority caucus in Ghana’s legislature has served notice that they will protest at the Kotoka International Airport if the mandatory Covid-19 testing is not made free.
Ranking Member on the Foreign Affairs Committee of Parliament, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa explained that government must accompany the re-opening of the land borders by also scrapping the cost of Covid-19 testing at KIA.
“Inasmuch as I welcome this development [the expected opening of land borders], it is inadequate. We want to see a complete reversal; a complete rollback [of the fees].”
“We want to serve notice that if by next week, the government does not reverse the fees… we are going to talk. Series of actions including public action, public manifestation and picketing at the airport until that fleecing going on at the airport is reversed,” Mr Ablakwa said.
The services of Frontiers Healthcare Solution Services Limited were sought to carry out 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 test cost $150 but was subsequently reviewed.
The said amount was maintained for non-ECOWAS citizens, whiles those from any of the West African countries were to pay $50 for such services at Kotoka International Airport.
The Minority caucus complained that Ghana was short-changed in the deal with Frontiers Healthcare Solution Services Limited with regard to the Covid-19 testing services at the Kotoka International Airport.
Last week, the Leader of the Minority caucus revealed that some of its members will push a motion demanding accountability from the company handling the testing.
