A new testing regime has been approved by the government and based on the outcome the land borders could be opened
Ghana’s land borders are likely to be opened in the coming weeks depending on the effectiveness of a new testing regime.
The land borders had been closed for more than a year due to the outbreak of the deadly COVID-19 pandemic.
Speaking to Nana Yaa Mensah on The Asaase Breakfast Show on Tuesday (3 August), Dr Bernard Okoe Boye, a former deputy minister of health, said: “So, as we speak officially our land borders are closed, but cargo is allowed, and you know cargo comes with the driver and one or two loaders.”
“So, what is happening now is that the COVID test board chaired by the President has approved the use of other antigen technology at some of these borders so that at least the drivers of these cargoes can be subjected to test.”
He added: “Now based on the experiment, how the testing goes, we might consider opening the borders with that technology or with that testing in place.”
Step up surveillance at land borders
Meanwhile, Dr Frank Ankobea, president of the Ghana Medical Association (GMA) has expressed worry over the detection of the deadly Delta variant of Coronavirus in the Greater Accra and Ashanti Regions.
The Ghana Health Service (GHS) on Sunday 4 July announced that it has recorded 34 active cases of the deadly Delta variant of the Coronavirus disease in Ghanaian communities including some students of the Achimota School who tested positive.
Health experts say the Delta variant which originated from India, has higher transmission rate and spreads faster than other COVID-19 strains.
Speaking in an interview with Beatrice Adu on The Asaase Breakfast Show, Dr Ankobea called on government to strengthen surveillance at the country’s land borders.
“You see, what you should know is that yes, people will be vigilant, [but] try and prevent it from getting into the system. But one way or the other, some may slip through, we don’t even know where these ones came from.
“It could be through our land borders and not necessarily the airports and it’s a cause for us to strengthen our land borders and all those things with surveillance,” Dr Ankobea said.
