The government of Ghana has indicated it might consider banning flights from Ebola affected countries should they suspect anyone travelling into Ghana has the virus.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has urged governments not to impose blanket bans on trade and travel on Ebola-affected countries.
On Saturday however, Kenya declared a travel ban on persons traveling from Sierra Leone, Guinea and Liberia.
Ivory Coast has also banned all passenger flights from the three countries in a bid to prevent the spread of the Ebola virus.
Aside countries placing a ban on flights to the affected countries, some airline operators; Asky, Korean Air and British Airways have all banned flights to the West African sub-region.
The Deputy Minister of Transport, Joyce Bawa Mogtari in an interview with Citi News said government will ban flights from affected countries as part of drastic measures to protect the country’s citizenry from being infected by deadly virus.
She explained that if a lot of people are arriving in Ghana from the affected countries, “then some drastic measures will be taken which will include banning flights.”
The Deputy Minister noted that the sub-region is experiencing an emergency situation therefore, whatever steps must be taken to contain the disease and prevent the further spread will be undertaken.
Government, according to her, is solely focused on shielding Ghanaians from the deadly virus.
“We want to ensure that in the event that we get Ghanaians getting this virus, we will be able to ensure that we have the isolation centers ready,” she added.
Mogtari also mentioned that frantic efforts are being made to get all entry points into Ghana fully equipped to screen travelers and quarantine any person suspected to be infected with the virus.
She served notice that more drastic measures will be taken by the government if the situation worsens because keeping the general public safe is paramount.
By: Efua Idan Osam/citifmonline.com/Ghana
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