Ghana Airport Company Limited and the Frontier Healthcare Service partnered to offer Covid 19 testing at the Kotoka International Airport(KIA). Testing kits at the KIA were priced at $150 each. Ghanaians complained about how very high this is especially when compared with prices in other countries. 

On February 11, 2021, Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, the Minister-designate of Foreign Affairs, indicated  during her Vetting by Parliament’s appointment Committee that she was not involved in any discussions about the $150 COVID-19 testing fee at the Kotoka International Airport. She further stated that she was only aware of the $50 COVID-19 test for ECOWAS citizens 

“but I know at ECOWAS, a decision was taken for ECOWAS citizens throughout all the 15 member states to only have a financial burden of $50 for the COVID-19 test,” she said.

Initially, all passengers flying into Ghana were required to pay $150 for a 30-minute PCR COVID-19 test at the Kotoka International Airport.

However, on Sunday January 31, 2021, His Excellency, President Nana Addo Danquah Akufo-Addo declared that testing for COVID-19 for all nationals of ECOWAS had been capped at $50.

His excellency emphasised on the fact that the cost for other nationals outside the ECOWAS sub-region will remain at $150.

Commenting on the $50 charge for ECOWAS nationals,  the Minister-designate for Foreign Affairs justified said

“I think it is okay. Even in Europe, there are some charges left to citizens within the zone and a different one for the people outside of it.”

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