KIA releases revised rules for travellers amidst Covid-19 pandemic

Amidst the second wave of Covid-19 in the country, management of the Kotoka International Airport (KIA) has announced revised safety measures that must be strictly observed by passengers travelling to Ghana.

These new safety guidelines are expected to take effect from Monday, February 8, 2021.

According to a statement issued by KIA, all other passengers arriving in the country on international flights (including those arriving from the ECOWAS region) must not have symptoms suggestive of Covid-19 including but not limited to a body temperature of more than 38°C.

In addition, airlines who board passengers without PCR test results or transport passengers with positive PCR test results into the country will be fined a sum of US$3,500 per passenger.

UPDATED COVID-19 GUIDELINES FOR KOTOKA INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT (KIA) EFFECTIVE
8
TH FEBRUARY 2021 AT 1800 HOURS
REVISION 5: EFFECTIVE DATE: 8

TH FEBRUARY 2021 AT 1800 HOURS (UTC)

1. Arriving Passengers
   All international arriving passengers, including those from the ECOWAS region, will be required
   to meet the following health requirements prior to admission into Ghana:
   a) Passengers must not have symptoms suggestive of COVID-19 including body
   temperature >38°C.
   b) Passengers must possess a COVID-19 negative PCR test from an accredited laboratory in
   the country of origin. The test should have been done not more than 72 hours before
   the scheduled departure time from the country of origin.
   c) Airlines who board passengers without PCR test result or transport and disembark
   passengers with Positive PCR test result into Accra will be fined US$3,500 per passenger.
   o Non-Ghanaians may be refused entry and returned to the point of embarkation at a
   cost to the Airline.
   o Ghanaians will be allowed entry but subject to 14 days of mandatory quarantine at a
   designated facility.
   d) Arriving passengers will undergo temperature screening.
   e) Ghanaian residents who depart Ghana and return within one (1) week will not be
   required to present a COVID-19 result from the country of departure. They will,
   however, undergo mandatory COVID-19 testing upon arrival in Ghana.
   f) Passengers will be subjected to a mandatory COVID-19 test at the airport terminal at a
   cost to be borne by the passenger as indicated below:
   • Ghanaians and Ecowas Citizens – $50
   • All Other Passengers – $150
   Payment MUST be made online at https://myfrontierhealthcare.com/Home/Ghana and
   proof of payment (receipt) shown to Airline before boarding.
   g) Airlines who board passengers without proof of payment for the COVID-19 test and
   would/could NOT pay for the test in Ghana, will be fined US$3,500 per passenger.
   o Non-Ghanaian passengers may be refused entry and returned to the point of
   embarkation at a cost to the Airline.
   o Ghanaian passengers will have their passports seized; the passenger handed over
   to State Security Agencies and taken into a fourteen (14) day quarantine at a
   designated location at the passenger’s cost.

h) All arriving passengers who test positive for COVID-19 will undergo mandatory isolation
and treatment at a designated health facility or isolation centre, at a cost to passengers,
EXCEPT Ghanaian citizens. The isolation will be for a period of seven (7) days. However,
the final discharge of cases will be based on existing case management guidelines and
protocols.
i) All passengers who test negative for COVID-19 will be required to continuously adhere to
COVID-19 safety protocols and will receive regular information on COVID-19 within five
(5) days of arrival in Ghana.

j) Passengers who test negative will be advised to continue to observe COVID-19 safety
precautions following arrival in Ghana.
k) For passengers who transit through other countries before arriving in Ghana, the first
country of departure will be the reference point. (Connecting flights should not deny
passenger boarding, as long as the journey has not been terminated in any of the transit
countries.)

2. Transit Passengers
   a) Passengers transiting and transferring through Accra will not be required to take the
   COVID-19 test in Accra.
   b) Transit passengers will be required to adhere to COVID-19 testing requirements for the
   destination countries.
3. Exemptions
   a) Airline crew are exempted from the pre-departure and arrival COVID-19 testing and
   should follow the Airline policy for testing.
   b) Children under 5 years of age will not be required to undergo testing on Arrival at the
   Kotoka International Airport.
   c) Passengers who arrive under emergency circumstances such as diverted flights will not
   be required to undergo testing if they do not leave the airport or remain in isolation in
   their hotel.
   d) Children between the ages of 5-12 years will be required to pay for testing at the new
   rates (refer to no.1f).
   Passengers must wear face mask appropriately (extending from the middle nasal bridge
   to halfway between the chin and the neck) and are advised to regularly use any of the
   hand sanitizing stations provided in the terminal.
4. Travelling with Pets
   a) Travelling with pets into Ghana is allowed in line with guidelines of the Veterinary
   Services Directorate of the Ministry of Food & Agriculture
5. Departing Passengers
   All international departing passengers will be required to meet the following guidelines prior to
   departure:
   a) Passengers will be required to adhere to COVID-19 testing requirements for the
   destination countries
   b) Departing passengers will undergo temperature screening at the entrance of Terminal 3
   departures
   c) Only passengers and persons with business in the terminal will be allowed entry
   d) Online check-in or the use of self-service kiosks is strongly encouraged to reduce
   physical contact at the airport
   e) Passengers are advised to arrive at the airport at least 4 hours before the scheduled
   departure time.

“Non-Ghanaians may be refused entry and returned to the point of embarkation at a cost to the Airline.

“Ghanaians will be allowed entry but subject to 14 days of mandatory quarantine at a designated facility,” the statement read.

The cost of PCRs is now US$50 for Ghanaians and ECOWAS citizens and US$150 for all other passengers. Payment for these tests must be done online before arrival at Ghana.

However, airline crew, children under 5 years, passengers who arrive under emergency circumstances such as diverted flights will not be required to undergo testing if they do not leave the airport or remain in isolation in their hotel.

For passengers departing the country, the are required to adhere to Covid-19 testing requirements for their destination countries. KIA however, encouraged the use of the online check-in or self-service kiosk in order to reduce physical contact.