TheCable

President Nana Akufo-Addo of Ghana says the country is working towards reopening the country’s air space for international travel by September 1, 2020.

The president delivered his 15th national address on measures being taken against the spread of COVID-19 in Ghana on Sunday.

Akufo-Addo said: “I know many still ask whether our borders, especially our international airport, Kotoka International Airport will be opened”.

“Under my instructions, the ministry of aviation, the Ghana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) and the Ghana Airports Company Limited (GACL) have been working with the ministry of health and its agencies to ascertain our readiness to re-open our airport

“I want to ensure that we are in a position to test every single passenger who arrives in the country to avoid the spread of the virus.

“The outcome of that exercise will show us the way and determine when we can re-open our border by air.

“I’m hoping that by God’s grace we will be ready to do so by the September 1. Until further notice, our borders by air, land and sea remain closed to human traffic.”

Ghana’s international airports were shut down on March 22 as part of the movement restrictions imposed to control the spread of the coronavirus.

Also, Akufo-Addo said tertiary institutions in the country will reopen on August 24.

“Through online learning portals, almost all continuing students in our universities have completed their studies for the academic year with the exception of the University of Cape Coast, University of Health and Allied Sciences, technical universities and some other colleges.

“After extensive stakeholder consultations, the decision has been taken for continuing students of these tertiary institutions to return to school on August 24 to finish their academic year.”

According to the Worldometer coronavirus data, Ghana has 42,532 confirmed cases, 40,362 persons recovered and 231 deaths recorded.