Officials at the Kotoka International Airport (KIA) on Monday prevented two Italians travelling onboard Air France from entering the country.
The decision to deny them entry into the country was in compliance with travel advisory directive issued by the President on Sunday restricting non-Ghanaian nationals from countries with more than 200 cases of Covid-19 from entering the country.
Speaking at a trainer-of-trainers workshop for Regional Information Officers (RIO) of the Information Services Department (ISD), the Minister of Information, Mr Kojo Oppong Nkrumah said officials at the KIA got the information that there were two Italians onboard the flight coming from the epicentre.
In line with the directive, arrangements were made to ensure that the two did not disembark the aircraft and were made to return to their originating destination.
“Last night I think there were two Italians who we were clear were coming from the epicentre so we got confirmation of the details even though the aircraft was in the air, we have to make arrangement at the airport to ensure that they did not get down from the aircraft and be returned to their originating destination,” he emphasised.
Mr Nkrumah said even though the action was taken earlier than the stipulated 1pm Tuesday, it only demonstrated that some soft enforcement of the President’s directive had commenced at the country’s airports.
He said government was monitoring the situation closely and so far what had been done was in line with the guidelines issued by the President.
Mr Nkrumah said there would be no hesitation in reviewing the guidelines when the need be, adding that “As the President said, the guidelines that have been given are subject to review at any point in time but at this stage this is what we believe is appropriate to do.” END
By Cliff Ekuful
