The operator of Ghana’s main international airport stated on December 13 that airlines will be fined $3,500 for each passenger who isn’t vaccinated against COVID-19 or tests positive for the coronavirus upon arrival. According to Ghana Airports, the rule will take effect on Tuesday at Kotoka International Airport in Accra. It comes after the health ministry announced last week that all visitors to Ghana must be vaccinated.

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The precautions are among the most stringent in Africa, where vaccine acceptance has been hampered by a lack of availability and logistical challenges. The European Investment Bank (EIB) announced a 75 million euro ($85 million) investment loan to help Ghana’s pandemic response, making it the most significant such financing for a COVID-19 initiative in Sub-Saharan Africa.  

In a statement, EIB President Werner Hoyer said, “Ghana has taken considerable steps to minimise the impact of COVID and unlock long-term investment.” 

The authorities launched an enormous vaccination drive this month prior to the enforcement from January 22 of a vaccine mandate for targeted groups, including government employees, medical experts and students. It plans to recruit more medical experts to be ready to double daily inoculation from 140,000. 

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Ghana, one of West Africa’s largest economies based on cocoa, gold and oil exports, has vaccinated just more than 5% of its 30 million inhabitants to date, according to Reuters data. According to the data, COVID-19 has caused 131,412 infections and 1,239 fatalities in the country’s health system. The health department stated on Friday that COVID-19 cases documented at Kotoka airport accounted for roughly 60% of total infections in the country over the previous month.