President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has assured Ghanaians of his commitment to safeguard their lives in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Addressing the nation on enhanced responsive measures taken to tackle the Covid-19 pandemic, President Nana Addo reaffirmed his determination to ensure that Ghanaians are safe from contracting the deadly Covid-19 pandemic.
Justifying the $150 charged passengers arriving in Ghana through the Kotoka International Airport for mandatory Covid-19 test, he said he is determined to do everything in his power as the President of the country to prevent the importation of the virus into the country and contain its spread.
“Let me assure you again that, as President of the Republic, I will do everything in my power to protect you and stop the importation of the virus into our country, or limit and contain its spread. This is my solemn commitment to you,” he assured.
The President noted that despite the requirement that passengers arriving into the country must be in possession of a negative PCR test result conducted within 72-hours prior to the departure from the originating country, passengers are still detected to be Covid-19 positives hence the essence of the fee charged for the test.
Though the $150 charge on passengers arriving into the country for the mandatory Covid-19 test was heavily criticized by section of the Ghanaian populace, President Nana Addo said the test, which has led to the detection of 26 positive cases at the airport, has justified the fee charged.
He asserted that the test has saved passengers from bearing the cost of the 14-day mandatory quarantine in hotels as well as averting the importation of the virus by ensuring speed and accurate detection of effected persons so as to isolate and treat them.
“Even though the cost of US$150 per passenger, for the mandatory airport COVID test, has been criticized in certain quarters, the value of the test in its speed, accuracy and savings for passengers, who no longer have to bear the cost of the 14-day mandatory quarantine in hotels, has been clearly established,” he stated.
