The Republic of Ghana has resumed consular services in Pakistan following a gap of six months, it was announced on Friday. The Consulate was closed due to coronavirus but it has been reopened in line with the SOPs, said Dr Shahid Rasheed Butt, honorary Consul General of Ghana.

He said that all prescribed COVID-19 protocols including social distancing enhanced hygiene and sanitising as well as the mandatory wearing of masks on the premises have been enforced with immediate effect.

Ghana is one of the best investment destinations attracting huge crowds and all the travellers are required to have a COVID-19 negative test result issued by an accredited lab, the test must have not been done more than 72 hours before the flight, he added.

Shahid Rasheed Butt said that the Government of Ghana has directed all the airlines to follow the procedure, as the carriers violating the orders will face sanctions.

Moreover, he said, all the passengers arriving in Ghana will be required to undergo a mandatory COVID-19 test and the result will be made available within 30 minutes while children under the age of five would not be required to undergo the testing at the airport.

Passengers arriving under emergency circumstances would not be required to undergo testing if they remained confined to the airport while airline crew have been exempted from pre-departure and arrival testing.

Passengers who test positive for COVID-19 upon arrival in Ghana would be cared for by the health authorities for clinical assessment and management and possible admission in hospitals, he said.