Ghana’s President Nana Akufo-Addo on Sunday announced the government has removed the mandatory requirement for face masks to be worn in public, citing a sustained drop in the number of new Covid-19 cases in Ghana and neighboring countries, reported Modern Ghana. He declared that the land and sea borders have been opened to mark the end of Covid-19 restrictions imposed at the beginning of the pandemic.
“From tomorrow, Monday, 28th March, the wearing of facemasks is no longer mandatory”, President Akufo-Addo announced.
Ghana’s president said starting from Monday, fully vaccinated travelers will be allowed entry through land and sea borders without a negative PCR test result. Also, citizens and foreign residents in Ghana who aren’t fully vaccinated will be required to produce a negative 48-hour PCR test result and will be offered vaccination on arrival.
All in-person activities such as those in churches, mosques, conferences, cinemas, and theaters, as well as outdoor functions at sporting events and political rallies, are now allowed to resume at full capacity, as long as the audience and participants are fully vaccinated.
However, the president encouraged Ghanaians to continue observing enhanced hand hygiene practices and avoid overcrowded places.
“I encourage all of you, though, to continue to maintain enhanced hand hygiene practices, and avoid overcrowded gatherings,” he said.
Ghana’s daily infection rate has been falling steadily since December 2021. The West African country has so far recorded 160,925 confirmed Covid cases. The total number of active coronavirus cases stood at 72 on March 25.
According to Ghana’s president, the country has administered 13.1 million doses of Covid-19 vaccines so far and expects to achieve its target of vaccinating 20 million citizens by June this year.
Ghana joins the list of several other African countries that have eased most Covid containment measures despite the World Health Organization warning last week that the restrictions were being lifted too soon.
