The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration has announced the closure of the VIP Lounge at the Kotoka International Airport (KIA) effective Saturday, March 21.
The move, according to a statement issued by the ministry is “part of enhanced measures by the Government of Ghana to contain the spread of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic”.
It’s been a little over a week since Ghana recorded its first cases of the global pandemic and the number has since been on the rise, forcing authorities to put in measures including closing down schools, banning public gatherings and issuing travel advisory.
There are currently 16 confirmed cases, three of which are community infections and the rest imported, and health experts have warned the coming days could be dire.
President Akufo-Addo has issued an Executive Instrument to restrict the movement and association of people where necessary, all in a bid to fightback the covid-19 outbreak.
Following all these developments, points of entry to the country like the airport, sea ports and the borders have become a public concern. Even though the government has issued a travel advisory restricting “unnecessary” travels and a complete ban on people coming from infected countries, there are still some concerns.
The Foreign Affairs Ministry explains this latest move as being very necessary.
“The above decision is critical to secure Ghana’s borders and ports of entry, especially the KIA against further importation of the virus into the country. In light of the foregoing, it has become mandatory for all inbound and outbound passengers, including emergency cases, to use Terminal 3 of the KIA and go through laid down arrival and departure protocols”, parts of the statement reads.
The ministry has thus called on all Diplomatic Missions, International Organisations and Honorary Consulates accredited to the Republic of Ghana to bear with them, and promises to restore the lounge once the situation normalizes.
By 3news.com|Ghana