Clarifying Ghana’s Latest COVID-19 Travel Updates

Last month, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo announced several travel updates pertaining to COVID-19 vaccination status and entry into the country or at land borders. Highlights of these travel updates are summarized below:

• Fully vaccinated travelers into Ghana will no longer need to take a COVID-19 PCR test from the country of embarkation to allow them entry into the country through Kotoka International Airport, and will not be tested upon arrival.
• Citizens and foreign residents in Ghana who are not fully vaccinated, would, however need to provide a negative COVID-19 PCR test result of not more than 48 hours, and will undergo an antigen test upon arrival at Kotoka International Airport, and will be offered vaccination there.
• All land and sea borders will be opened. Fully vaccinated travelers will be allowed entry through the land and sea borders without negative COVID-19 PCR test results from the country of origin. Citizens and foreign residents in Ghana who are not vaccinated will produce a negative PCR test.

While these updates caused excitement for many looking to visit Ghana in the near future, others were left with confusion as to whether unvaccinated visitors would be granted entry, and how they would be handled if so. The announcements made last month failed to address unvaccinated travelers, but information published by Ghana Airports Company Ltd has further clarified COVID-19 entry guidelines for travelers of all statuses.

Non-Ghanaians who do not have residency status in the country must provide evidence of full vaccination status to the Airline prior to embarkation.

Airlines are facing stiff penalties for violating these guidelines, so even for those with vaccine waivers, attempts to enter the country at the time being before full vaccination should be put on hold until further notice.

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