Ghana’s airports get disinfected prior to restart of domestic flights

Government in collaboration with Zoomlion Ghana Ltd. has embarked on a disinfection exercise of the country’s major airports; Kotoka International Airport (KIA), Tamale Airport, Kumasi Airport and Takoradi Airport.

This forms part of governments preparations ahead of the reopening of the airports for domestic flights operations.

At KIA, over 200 personnel from Zoomlion Ghana, placed in 14 groups disinfected the three terminals, cargo sections and the tarmac, as well as the other ancillary facilities at the airport.

The Aviation Minister, Mr. Joseph Kofi Adda in an interview said, “we closed down the flights, except for special flight that were evacuating passengers from different countries under the special permission from the presidency.”

“We also had an ongoing exercise for the cargo to continue operating, because there was the need to bring in essential cargo needed for the fight against COVID-19,” he added.

In March 2020, President Nana Akufo Addo ordered the review of Ghana’s travel advisory, which lead to the closing of air traffic from countries with more than 200 cases of the novel coronavirus.

The Minister noted that protocols have been developed to guide the operators of domestic flights to contain the coronavirus spread and to prevent infections.

Some of the protocols include passenger distancing, where passengers would be made to sit at a safe distance apart and also ensure that all the necessary protocols are observed on board flight.

Other measures being introduced include the testing of flight crew members before they start operation, as well as fumigation, regular passenger and handling crew sanitization as well as the acquisition of more PPEs for the Port Health officials and ground handling personnel.

In view of this, the Port Health Officials will ensure that the protocols are observed at the airports.