The Member of Parliament for North Tongu Constituency, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa is advocating for government to implement a price differential policy in the fees charged on travelers coming into the country by air for the conduct of Covid-19 test at Kotoka International Airport (KIA).
According to him, arrangements should be made to ensure that foreigners coming into the country to conduct huge business transactions are charged more in order to subsidize the fees charged on Ghanaian returnees for the conduct of the covid-19 test.
He asserted that the Ghanaian returnees most of whom have been stranded abroad as a result of the Covid-19 induced border closure are financially stressed and should be cushioned against the negative impacts the border closure had on them.
Mr. Okudzeto Ablakwa who said he has always advocated for relief packages for Ghanaians in difficult times argued that price differential policy in the aviation sector is a norm and should be implemented to serve as a mitigating package for Ghanaian returnees against the financial stress as the result of measures taken to contain the spread of the pandemic.
“Most of our returning compatriots have been under a lot of stress and deserve our continuous empathy. Another policy option is to have a graduated arrangement where foreigners coming to conduct big business are made to pay a little more to subsidize stressed Ghanaian returnees. A policy alternative of this kind would not be new to the aviation industry where price differentials have long existed in visa fees, ticketing cost, lounge rates etc.” He said in a post on Facebook.
Government announced at a press briefing that all travelers coming into the country would be required to pay a fee of US$150 for the conduct of mandatory test upon arrival at the airport.
The mandatory testing for all airline passengers forms part of measures outlined by government to contain the spread of the coronavirus and prevent its importation into the country following the reopening of the country’s airport for international flights.
Defending the US$150 charge for the mandatory testing, the Deputy Minister of Health, Bernard Oko-Boye described the testing fee as a good bargain since “nothing is more expensive than contracting Covid-19.”
But Mr. Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa wants a downward review of the fees charged on Ghanaians returning.
“Our Government would seriously have to consider a significant reduction in the advertised US$150.00 for a COVID-19 test,” he stated.
Former Communication Minister, Dr. Edward Omane Boamah had earlier expressed similar sentiments about the fees accusing government of trying to cash on Covid-19.
Meanwhile, officials of the Noguchi Memorial Institute which is one of the lead covid-19 testing centers in the country have questioned the accuracy of the test and the fees charged.
Dr. Kofi Bonney of the Institute in an interview on JoyNews TV stated that the testing should averagely cost between US$10 and US$20 not US$150 being charged by government. He also revealed that about half of the test to be conducted may not be accurate.
