The Ghana Health Service (GHS) has disclosed that a total of US$37,050 was generated from COVID-19 tests at the Kotoka International Airport after the first two days.
The first batch of international commercial passengers arrived at the airport on Tuesday, September 1, 2020 following its reopening.
Over 300 passengers arrived within the first two days and were successfully subjected to COVID-19 tests at the Upper Arrival section of airport.
Passengers arriving from other countries are, however, required to pay a fee of US$150 for the mandatory COVID 19 test.
This has generated protests from would be passengers who feel the amount is too high, compared with what neighbouring countries charge but government officials have pointed out that test results are made available in about 30 minutes which is much faster than most other countries around the world currently. For instance, while Nigeria charges US$130 for the test, the results take two days to be provided.
The Kotoka International Airport was reopened on September 1
The only ones excluded from the COVID-19 test at the airport are those who have a negative PCR test result that is not over 72 hours old.
Speaking at the Information Ministry’s Meet the Press encounter, the Director General of the GHS, Dr. Patrick Kuma-Aboagye, said 247 Covid-19 tests have so far been conducted.
From the tests conducted within the first two days of reopening the airport to international traffic, he said government has generated a total of $37,050.
Dr. Kuma-Aboagye also revealed that none of the passengers who have arrived at the airport so far has tested positive.
“So far we have not recorded any positive cases and that is our ultimate aim. Our ultimate aim is to ensure that people arrive here negative and truly negative,” he said.
The airport was closed in March in the wake of the Coronavirus pandemic, but was officially reopened to international traffic on Tuesday last week.
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