travelling to Ghana will from Tuesday, September 15 be required to pay online for the mandatory COVID-19 test at Kotoka International Airport prior to boarding of their flight, a directive by Frontier HealthCare—the company in-charge of the antigen test at the KIA—circulated to all airlines on Friday has revealed.

By the new directive, “Passengers are required to show proof of payment to airlines as a condition for boarding of flights to KIA.”

Ghana on September 1, 2020 opened its air space for international flights and instituted a compulsory testing regime upon arrival for all international passengers at a cost of US$150 or  flat rate of GH¢ 900

The new directive has, however, been described by airlines as detrimental to the renewed efforts to stimulate demand for air travel, given that cash payments remains the predominant mode of payment for most Ghanaian travelers.

An airline operator who wishes to remain anonymous, told Business24 that “The cost is already too high and now this new policy is also going to be implemented. There are hundreds of Ghanaian traders who travel to buy goods to retail in the country.

“Most of them don’t carry any electronic payment cards to be able to pay online. They should have the flexibility to pay cash when they arrive.”

Source: Aviation Ghana