The Government of Ghana is likely to ban flights from countries affected by the Ebola virus, the deputy Minister for Transport, Joyce Bawa Mogtari has revealed.
This, she said, are part of drastic measures to be taken to prevent the country’s citizens from getting infected with the deadly virus.
“In the event that we find that people arriving into the country from certain specific countries are found to have the virus, am sure that drastic measures would be taken which could include banning of flights from these countries.”
Meanwhile, Domestic Airlines operating in the country have said the ban will not have any significant impact on Ghana’s aviation industry.
Managing Director of Starbow, Eric Antwi welcomed the idea saying his company could not risk exposing its clients and staff to the virus, which has killed over 1000 Africans since the spread began in March this year.
“We cannot expose our crew, passengers and our aircraft itself to this kind of Ebola because we fly internal here. We cannot go there and come back and use the same aircraft to fly passengers to Kumasi or Tamale, it will be a problem for us. If there are even chartered flights coming in and going to Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea, we are not going to do, not now, till we are given clearance by the agencies –WHO and UN as well as government then we can go.
While World Health Organisation has urged governments not to impose blanket bans on trade and travel on Ebola affected countries, Kenya on Saturday declared a travel ban on people flying from Sierra Leone, Guinea and Liberia.