President Nana Addo Dankwa Akfuo-Addo has disclosed that government is working to procure her first consignment of COVID-19 vaccines within the first half of the year.
According to him, the earliest vaccines are expected into the country by March, which is expected to reach a total of 17.6 million doses by the end of June.
The President disclosed this on Sunday when he delivered his update No. 23 on measures taken against the spread of the coronavirus.
According to him, the government through bilateral and multilateral means has been working to make the aim of vaccinating the entire population a reality, with an initial target of 20 million people.
The President indicated that the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) will use its established processes for granting emergency-use-authorization for each vaccine in Ghana.
“I assure you that only vaccines that have been evaluated and declared as safe-for-use in Ghana will be administered,” he stated.
The President also disclosed that COVID test at the Kotoka International Airport has been reduced for inbound ECOWAS nationals to US$50 while the cost for non-ECOWAS national remains $150.
These new costs, he said, was agreed upon at the 58th Summit of the Authority of ECOWAS Heads of State and Government held virtually.
He said, “ECOWAS nationals and travellers, who test positive, will bear the cost of the mandatory isolation and treatment.”
“Ghanaian nationals, however, who test positive, upon their arrival into the country, will have their isolation and treatment costs borne by the State.”
President Akufo-Addo urged Ghanaians to continue to pay attention to their health, improve their fitness levels, and eat more local diets that will boost their immunity.
He charged people who should feel unwell at any point and exhibit the most common symptoms of the COVID such as fever, dry cough and tiredness to report to the nearest health facility to be tested.
COVID-19 tests, he indicated, are free for all Ghanaians at public health institutions and assured the cost of care at treatment and isolation centres will be borne by the government for citizens who test positive.
He urged Ghanaians to abide religiously by the restrictions government has reintroduced including a ban on public gatherings and also observe all the COVID protocols of wearing a mask in public, practising social distancing, washing hands with soap under running water, and refraining from shaking hands.
Government, he assured, will continue to monitor the situation, and will remain resolved in ensuring Ghanaians are able to return to their normal daily routines.
He expressed hope if each one embraces the safety protocols fully, and continue to put faith in the Almighty, Ghana will emerge strongly from the second wave of the pandemic.
