The National Democratic Congress (NDC) Minority Caucus in Parliament has called on the government to as a matter of urgency, institute and implement enhanced measures at the Kotoka International Airport to control the importation of COVID-19 cases into Ghana.
The enhanced measures, according to the Minority Caucus, should include a careful examination of the data of all PCR test results of arriving travelers and where necessary impose travel restrictions from regions that have travelers presenting fake or poor test results.
It should also include placing travel restrictions on countries currently experiencing high COVID-19 infection rates to reduce the possibility of importing COVID-19 infections into the country.
“Some countries have already implemented these measures and Ghana should also consider doing same”, the Minority Caucus said in a statement signed by its Ranking Member on the Health Committee of Parliament and Member of Parliament of Parliament (MP) for Juaboso, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh on Sunday, April 25, 2021.
In the view of the Minority, the increasing rate of positive cases of COVID-19 recorded at the KIA is so alarming that it demands immediate response from government.
Below is the full statement:
25/04/2021
MINORITY IN PARLIAMENT’S PRESS STATEMENT ON THE INFLUX OF POSITIVE COVID-19 CASES AT THE KOTOKA INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT.
Our attention has been drawn to the alarming increase of positive COVID-19 cases arriving in the country over the past week at the Kotoka International Airport. This news is alarming since we all know that our current struggles with COVID-19 started with two index patients coming through the same airport on the 12th of March last year.
Since then, several protocols have been instituted to reduce the probability of infections and keep Ghanaians safe. Key amongst them is the travel guideline which includes two compulsory COVID-19 tests – a Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) test at the country of origin and a $150 antigen test on arrival at the Kotoka International airport – before travelers are allowed into the country.
However, information we have gathered so far indicates that on the 24th of April an all-time high of 75 travelers tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 at the airport. This coming as a 67% jump on the previous all-time high of 45 cases recorded on the 21st of April last week, shows an exponential upward trajectory in terms of the positivity rate amongst travelers arriving at Kotoka.
This clearly raises three pertinent issues. The first has to do with the authenticity of the PCR test results carried by infected travelers coming into the country, second the safety protocols instituted at the various airports travelers may have used before arriving in the country and third our own measures to ensure the safety of immigration and other officials working at KIA.
Government must double its efforts to address these issues. First a determination must be made on how so many travelers are able to pass through the first screen procedure of a PCR test at their country of origin and land in Ghana having a COVID infection. This may indicate either poor tests or fake results.
And in that regard it is encouraging, although late, that government has issued a directive to have all PCR test results of arriving travelers digitally verified to reduce the probability of travelers arriving with fake COVID-19 test certificates. But government should also consider a careful examination of the data and where necessary impose travel restrictions from regions that have travelers presenting fake or poor test results.
Government should also consider travel restrictions on countries currently experiencing high COVID-19 infection rates to reduce the possibility of importing COVID-19 infections into the country. Some countries have already implemented these measures and Ghana should also consider doing same.
Ghanaians have endured many losses in terms of lives, resources, lost opportunities with the economy taking a hit resulting in one of its lowest growth rates since the inception of the 4th republic. Restrictions on movement; the organization of social events such as funerals, weddings and parties; and the requirement to wear personal protective equipment such as nose masks and face shields in public places.
After all these sacrifices, the current situation at the airport may be heralding a disaster of unimaginable proportions if not addressed. It is therefore incumbent on government to take its responsibility at the airport more seriously and as a matter of urgency, implement enhanced measures to better control the importation of COVID cases.
Thank you.
