The Minister of Aviation, Joseph Kofi Adda says COVID-19 safety protocols have been enhanced at Terminal 3 of the Kotoka International Airport.
He made these comments during an inspection of the terminal on Thursday, August 27, 2020, as part of preparations towards a likely reopening of the country’s airports to international flights on September 1.
He revealed that “From my understanding, the south side and the north side both have about 35 samples taking booths. There is a testing wing in there where the samples will be sent and tested and then that would be electronically transmitted. By the time they get down here, the result would have been ready. Whoever is negative will just pick up their baggage and go. Whoever is positive will be held back by the port health officials and counselled.”
In addition to the sample-taking booths, floor markings to ensure social distancing, seven temperature thermal scanners among others have also been put in place.
These are all in compliance with the International Civil Aviation Organisation’s (ICAO’s) Take-Off guidance for safe operations amid the coronavirus pandemic.
The Minister also added that work on the facility is not completed but was confident it would be done in time for the likely reopening of the country’s airport to international travel.
“It’s not hundred percent ready, but we’ve done quite well on that. We are hoping by tomorrow everything will be set and then depending on how the final testing takes place, the declaration will be made by the President when he addresses the nation on Sunday. When the full-blown simulation is done, we will disinfect the airport totally,” he added.
The Ministry of Aviation had earlier indicated that it will meet various stakeholders in the sector to come up with specific timelines for the reopening of the country’s airspace for international travels.
According to Joseph Kofi Adda, the Health Ministry has already come up with safety measures for aeroplanes to adhere to.
The country’s borders have been shut since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic as part of measures to avert a spread.
