Ghana begins placing fines on airlines flying into the country with travellers who were unvaccinated.

The development was announced in a joint statement by the Ghana Health Service and Ghana Civil Aviation Authority.

The statement noted that the new regulations are to curb the spread of the Omicron variant, said to be a highly transmissible virus strain.

“The current increase in cases together with the detection of the omicron variant among international arrivals and the expected increase during the festive season calls for urgent actions to prevent a major surge in COVID-19 cases in Ghana,” the Ghana Health Service said.

Ghana Airports Company Limited announced that all arriving passengers over 18 years old would be required to show evidence of being fully vaccinated against COVID-19.

Voice of Africa reports that airlines will be fined $3,500 for every passenger who arrives without proof of vaccination, a negative COVID-19 test result, or one that tests positive on arrival.

The airport authority also announced that Ghanaians arriving without meeting the new requirement will be allowed to enter the country and would undergo a 14-day quarantine, while foreigners may be refused entry.

Under the new measures, airlines will also be penalised the same amount for travellers who did not fill a health declaration form before boarding their flight to Kotoka International Airport in Accra.

Ghana’s health ministry instituted the measures in light of the spread of the Omicron variant in neighbouring countries like Nigeria and at a time where Ghana is expected to receive over one million Astrazeneca vaccines from Germany and other EU partners.