On Monday, Ghanaian President Nana Akufo-Addo announced the reopening of land and sea borders as he lifted most of the COVID-19 restrictions.

“From Monday, the wearing of face masks is no longer mandatory. I encourage all of you to continue to maintain enhanced hand hygiene practices and avoid overcrowded gatherings,” Mr Akufo-Addo said.

In his 28th nationwide COVID-19 address, the president added that he made the decision after reviewing the raft of measures put in place to help win the fight against the virus, against the background of rapidly declining infections and the relative success of the vaccination campaign by the Ghana Health Service.

Also, the president said religious gatherings, conferences, workshops and funerals might resume at full capacity as long as audiences are fully vaccinated.

Nonetheless, he said handwashing and hand sanitising points must be available.

“Fully vaccinated travellers will be allowed entry through the land and sea borders without a negative PCR (polymerase chain reaction) test result from the country of origin,” Mr Akufo-Addo announced. “It has been a difficult two years, and we see the light at the end of a very long tunnel. I appeal to all of us to live responsibly, protect ourselves, and do everything we can to stay safe as we lift these restrictions.”

(Xinhua/NAN)