Effective today, September 1, individuals below the age of 18 years will not be mandated to undertake pre-departure COVID-19 testing and testing upon arrival at the Kotoka International Airport (KIA), the Ghana Airports Company Limited (GACL) has revealed.The GACL revealed this in a statement dated August 31, when it revised its COVID-19 guidelines for individuals who fly in and out of Ghana through the KIA.

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Previously, only children under 10 years were exempted from pre-departure COVID-19 PCR testing and COVID-19 testing at the Airport upon arrival, but the new guidelines have extended the range to 17 years and below.Also, children between 10-17 years who are unvaccinated were initially to submit a 48 Hour negative PCR test prior to embarkation to Ghana, but this has been scrapped off by GACL in the latest guidelines.

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The GACL did not provide any reasons for the move but UNICEF says reports so far indicate that there have been relatively few cases of COVID-19 reported among children.Currently, fully vaccinated individuals will be exempted from pre-departure COVID-19 PCR testing from point of embarkation and upon arrival at the Kotoka International Airport (KIA).

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Ghanaians and foreign residents (18 years and above) who fall under this condition will be made to provide evidence of full vaccination for a COVID-19 vaccine at the point of embarkation.“All international passengers including those from the ECOWAS region, intending to fly to Ghana, will be required to be fully vaccinated. All International passengers including those from the ECOWAS region must complete a Port Health Declaration Form at

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before embarkation of flight to Ghana," the statement added.According to the GACL, partially vaccinated or unvaccinated individuals will be required to present a negatuve 48hrs PCR test result to the airline before embarkation and upon arrival."Partially vaccinated or unvaccinated will undergo COVID-19 testing at the KIA upon arrival. Partially vaccinated or unvaccinated will undergo COVID-19 vaccination at KIA upon

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arrival.At the point of embarkation, non-Ghanaians must provide evidence of full vaccination status to the Airline prior to embarkation."Airlines that board non-Ghanaians without evidence of full vaccination will be considered to have violated the COVID-19 guidelines for Ghana and shall be fined $3,500.00," the statement added.

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Travelling to Kotoka International Airport with fake or forged vaccination certificates shall be quarantined and returned to the point of embarkation at their own cost.The GACL stressed that, "All Arriving passengers will undergo temperature screening, Yellow Fever Card verification and COVID-19 vaccination certificate verification as required.

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”&nbsp;<img class="alignnone wp-image-344479 size-full" alt="" width="969" height="2560" />Source: The Independent Ghana 

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