On Sunday, 27 March 2022, the President of the Republic of Ghana updated the country on the mitigating measures1 taken since the global surge of COVID-19 and the extent to which these measures have succeeded in containing the spread of the coronavirus in Ghana. Following the current statistics on Ghana of seventy-two (72) active cases with no critical case (based on available data from the Ghana Health Service as of Friday, 25 March 2022), the President has announced an easing of the restrictions placed on travel as well as in-country social and other daily-life and commercial activities.2
The president indicated that Ghana is:
- opening its sea and land borders,
- allowing the resumption of in-person activities to full capacity,
- dropping the requirement that fully vaccinated travelers take a PCR test from their country of embarkation before entry into Ghana through the Kotoka International Airport, and
- ceasing the mandatory wearing of face masks.
These measures took effect from Monday, 28 March 2022.
WHY THIS MATTERS
With this announcement, fully vaccinated travelers coming to Ghana for business trips, international assignments, or for pleasure will no longer incur costs and administrative burdens associated with PCR tests from their country of embarkation as well as in-country antigen tests or for quarantining.
The ease of restrictions on social and other in-person activities, as well as the opening of sea and land brders, will enhance movement of persons and goods between other countries and Ghana.
Employers may also see a reduction in assignment-related costs in respect of assignees into and out of Ghana as fully vaccinated individuals will no longer require COVID-19 testing and/or quarantining.
Easing of Travel Protocols
Below are the new travel protocols.
1. Fully vaccinated travelers into Ghana will not need to take PCR tests from the country of embarkation to allow them entry into Ghana through the Kotoka International Airport (KIA), and they will not be tested on arrival.
2. All land and sea borders will be opened, and fully vaccinated travelers will be allowed entry into Ghana through the country’s land and sea borders without needing to show a negative PCR tests result from the country of origin.
Travel Protocols in Force
1. Ghanaian citizens and foreign residents of Ghana who are not fully vaccinated would need to provide a negative PCR test result of not more than 48-hours in advance of travel to Ghana and will undergo an antigen test upon arrival at KIA or through the land and sea borders and will also be offered vaccination at the point of arrival.
2. Ghanaian citizens and foreign residents in Ghana, who are unvaccinated or not fully vaccinated currently, can be given waivers by the Ghana Health Service (GHS) to allow them entry into the country through KIA. They must also have a 72-hour negative PCR test result prior to embarkation and will be required to take an antigen test; they will also be offered vaccination on arrival.
3. Foreign Missions of Ghana have been instructed to make vaccination a requirement for visa acquisition.
Social and Other Restrictions
1. Wearing of face masks will no longer be mandatory.
2. In-person activities such as meetings, workshops, parties, churches, mosques, cinemas and theatres may resume at full capacity, as long as the audience and/or participants are fully vaccinated.
3. Outdoor functions such as sporting events, entertainment shows, political rallies, and funerals may resume at full capacity as long as the audience and/or participants are fully vaccinated.
KPMG NOTE
Hand washing and hand sanitizing points should be made available at all venues or events and over-crowded gatherings must be avoided.
Citizens and foreign residents in Ghana, arriving in the country, who are not fully vaccinated, will have to produce a negative 48-hour PCR test result, and will be offered vaccination on arrival.
FOOTNOTES
1 For related coverage, see GMS Flash Alert 2021-052, 8 February 2021.
2 See the president’s speech on the website for “The Presidency: Republic of Ghana”: https://www.presidency.gov.gh/index.php/briefing-room/speeches/2165-update-no-28-measures-taken-against-spread-of-coronavirus.
* Please note that KPMG LLP (U.S.) does not offer immigration services or labour law services. However, KPMG Law LLP in Canada can assist clients with U.S. immigration matters.
The information contained in this newsletter was submitted by the KPMG International member firm in Ghana.
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