North Tongu MP, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, says the government is acting in bad faith with its continuous mandatory COVID-19 testing at the Kotoka International Airport.
He insists that the government is only seeking to make profits when there is global relaxation of the COVID-19 protocols.
Speaking on Eyewitness News, the Ranking Member on the Foreign Affairs Committee suggested that government must stop the policy without delay.
“Our proposal is that, we should not behave as if we live on an island. Every other country is easing restriction including those that recorded far higher fatalities. If you look at the case of Ghana, we don’t seem to care these days about other protocols. When last did you see the enforcement of face masks or other protocols? Virtually, normalcy has returned. But when we go to the airport, we are pretending that nothing has changed and we are still on high alert just because of profiteering.”
- Minority has threatened to protest at Kotoka if COVID-19 testing is not made free
- Government spends US$35million on testing for COVID-19
Already, Mr. Ablakwa together with two other colleague MPs – Kwame Agbodza and Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, say they intend to consistently picket at the Airport until the government cancels the mandatory testing contract with the service providers; Frontiers Healthcare Services Ltd.
The opposition legislators are set to picket at the Kotoka International Airport on Wednesday March 30, 2022, to protest the continued mandatory COVID-19 testing for arriving passengers.
“What is happening at the airport is inconsistent with what is happening in the entire ecosystem after they have extorted from you. There is no enforcement anywhere, but when it comes to travelling, they are insisting on this kabal and we are saying enough is enough”, Samuel Ablakwa added.
Former President John Mahama also in a recent post said “It is a most unfortunate situation that Ghanaians who have valid vaccination certificates cannot board flights back home without a £90 PCR test, and an additional US$50 PCR test booking in Accra,” Mahama lamented in his post.
The government engaged Frontiers Healthcare Solution Services Limited to conduct the rapid COVID-19 tests at KIA following the reopening of the airport to international passenger flights in September 2020.
The 30-minute PCR COVID-19 test initially attracted a $150 fee but was subsequently reviewed.
While the amount was maintained for non-ECOWAS citizens, those from any of the West African countries were to pay $50 for such services at Kotoka International Airport.
