Nana Akomea, Managing Director of Intercity STC has warned of legal ramifications if Ghana Health Service and Ghana Airport Company goes ahead with its directive to vaccinate passengers at the Airport.
Ghana Health Services has directed that effective Tuesday, December 14, 2021, persons flying in and out of the country are to be fully vaccinated and to strictly follow stipulated guidelines for both self-preservation and the protection of the larger society.
They also warned that Airlines which bring in passengers to the Kotoka International Airport who are not fully vaccinated shall be surcharged U$3,500 per passenger; and Airlines which board passengers without PCR test results, or transport and disembark passengers with Positive PCR test results into Accra will also be fined US$3,500 per passenger.
While non-Ghanaians who fall into this category may be denied entry and returned to the point of embarkation at a cost to the Airline, Ghanaian passengers will be allowed entry but subject to 14 days of mandatory quarantine at a designated facility.
This directive has since generated into simmering debates across mainstream and social media. Whereas some people are opposed to the seeming forced vaccination, others believe the measure will be key to protecting the larger Ghanaian community, against the Omicron variant.
But Speaking on Peace FM’s Kokrokoo programme, the Former Minister for Information maintained that although vaccination is our surest way of dealing with COVID-19, same should not be forced on people.
‘‘Maybe they have some solid legal clauses to back their decision to force people to vaccinate. Otherwise, the forced vaccination will not help,’’ he stated.
He lamented the fact that Ghanaians have relaxed their compliance of the COVID-19 safety protocols.
According to him, while the government can enforce restricting unvaccinated persons from accessing certain services or places, attempt to force vaccinate people will open government up to legal ramifications.
Nana Akomea also urged government to use inducements to get people to vaccinate, as it pertains in other jurisdictions.
‘‘We need 20 million Ghanaians to be vaccinated but we seem to have relaxed the COVID-19 safety protocols. Government can use inducements to get as many people to vaccinate , to reduce the risk of spread of the virus,’’ he advised.
