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COVID-19 in Ghana
Last updated: December 9, 2020
The United States Government does not plan to provide COVID-19 vaccinations to private U.S. citizens overseas. Please follow host country developments and guidelines for COVID-19 vaccination.
Country-Specific Information:
- Accra Kotoka International Airport reopened for regular international passenger travel on Tuesday, September 1, 2020. Ghana’s land and sea borders remain closed until further notice. See the Entry and Exit Requirements section below.
- The Ministry of Health has mandated the use of facemasks in public. The police are enforcing this directive.
- Restaurants are operating with appropriate social distancing precautions. Conferences, workshops, weddings, and private burials are permitted with a maximum attendance of 100 persons. Religious services may operate at full capacity for up to two hours per service.
- Large sporting events, political rallies, and festivals are suspended until further notice. Nightclubs, bars, beaches, and cinemas must also remain closed until further notice.
- Open-air drinking establishments and Ghana’s national tourists sites/attractions are open.
Entry and Exit Requirements:
- Are U.S. citizens permitted to enter? Yes
- Accra Kotoka International Airport reopened for regular international passenger travel on Tuesday, September 1, 2020. Ghana’s land and sea borders remain closed until further notice.
- Is a negative COVID-19 test (PCR and/or serology) required for entry? Yes
- Individuals arriving in Ghana by air must present a negative COVID-19 polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test conducted by an accredited laboratory in the country of origin not more than 72 hours prior to departure.
- Ghanaian residents who depart Ghana and return within one week are not required to present a negative COVID-19 test prior to boarding, but they will be subject to testing upon arrival (see the following section).
- Are health screening procedures in place at airports and other ports of entry? Yes
- Upon arrival, each traveler age five and over must undergo a temperature screening and COVID-19 test conducted at the airport.
- The test carries a $150 fee per person. Travelers MUST pay the fee online before departure at https://myfrontierhealthcare.com/Home/Ghana and present proof of payment to the airline prior to boarding
- Test results will usually be available within 30 minutes. Travelers who test negative for COVID-19 will be allowed to enter Ghana with no quarantine requirement. Those who test positive for COVID-19 will complete arrival procedures with the help of airport health officials before transfer to Ga East Municipal Hospital for clinical assessment and management.
- Individuals who depart Ghana and return within one week will not need to present a negative PCR COVID-19 test. However, they will still be subject to testing upon arrival at the airport.
- Travelers exiting Ghana will undergo temperature screening prior to departure and will be required to comply with the COVID-19 testing requirements of their destination.Ghana’s normal visa requirements are in effect. U.S. citizens who were unable to depart Ghana before the expiration date of their visa or residency permit should contact the Ghana Immigration Service prior to attempting to exit Ghana.
Movement Restrictions:
- Is a curfew in place? No
- Are there restrictions on intercity or interstate travel? No
- Domestic airplanes, taxis, and buses are permitted to operate at full capacity. Face coverings are required in public.
Quarantine Information:
- Are U.S. citizens required to quarantine? No
- Individuals who test negative for COVID-19 upon arrival in Ghana will not be required to quarantine.
COVID-19 Testing:
- Nyaho Medical Centre, MDS Lancet, Akai House Clinic, and Noguchi Memorial Advanced Research Laboratory offer fee-based COVID-19 testing with a 24- to 48-hour turnaround time. Fees vary per institution and are not covered by the Government of Ghana. On average, testing fees range from 350 – 500 Ghana cedis. No-cost testing is available at Government of Ghana public hospitals listed in the Local Resources section below, however turnaround times can vary.
Transportation Options:
- Are commercial flights operating? Yes
- Accra Kotoka International Airport reopened for regular international passenger travel on Tuesday, September 1, 2020. Ghana’s land and sea borders remain closed until further notice.
- Is public transportation operating? Yes
- Domestic airplanes, taxis, and buses are operating at full capacity. Face coverings are required in public.
Fines for Non-Compliance:
- Not wearing a face covering in public could result in a fine of 12,000 to 60,000 cedis, and/or a prison sentence of four to ten years.
Consular Operations:
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- All U.S. citizens in Ghana are strongly encouraged to enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrolment Program (STEP). STEP is a free service that will allow you to receive regular travel, health, and safety email alerts from the U.S. Embassy.
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- American Citizen Services: The U.S. Embassy in Accra is offering routine passport, Consular Report of Birth Abroad (CRBA), and notarial services to U.S. citizens by appointment only via our online scheduling system. If you are unable to schedule an appointment, please check back later – additional appointments will be made available on a regular basis. We are facing increased wait times for services due substantial backlogs and increased public health protocols which limit the number of appointments we can schedule each day. For emergency American citizen services (death, arrest, or hospitalization of a U.S. citizen), contact ACSAccra@state.gov.
- Visa Services: The U.S. Embassy in Accra remains unable to resume routine immigrant and nonimmigrant visa services at this time. We will resume routine visa services as soon as possible but are unable to provide a specific date. The MRV fee is valid and may be used to schedule an interview appointment in the country where it was purchased within one year of the date of payment. If you have an urgent matter and need to travel immediately, please follow the guidance provided on our website to request an emergency appointment. You can find more information on the current status of visa services worldwide and visa restrictions related to the COVID-19 global pandemic here.
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Local Resources:
- Ga East Municipal Hospital, Ridge Hospital, and Tema General Hospital have been designated as the primary COVID-19 treatment centers in the Greater Accra region. Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) and Kumasi South Hospital are the primary COVID-19 treatment centers in the Ashanti region.
- Ga Municipal Hospital has recently opened an Infectious Diseases Unit and 37 Military Hospital has a recently completed Bio-containment Ward intended for infectious disease threats such as COVID-19. These hospital treatment facilities are expanding laboratory capacity to perform COVID-19 diagnostic testing in addition to treatment.
- The Government of Ghana has expanded COVID-19 treatment of confirmed cases with the addition of Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, 37 Military Hospital, and University of Ghana Medical Center. Isolation centers at Pentecost Community Center and Pram-pram Convention Center are the designated isolation centers for confirmed COVID-19 cases
- The Government of Ghana has set up two phone numbers for questions regarding COVID-19: +233 50 949 7700 and +233 55 843 9868.The Ghana Health Service also maintains a COVID-19 information website with useful information.
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