Covid-19: Ministry of Foreign Affairs announces the end of the evacuation exercise



[ad_1]

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration said on Saturday that it has ended the evacuation of Ghanaians stranded abroad due to Covid-19 restrictions.

The Ministry, in a copied statement to the Ghana News Agency, said that the end of the exercise followed the opening of Kotoka International Airport to commercial flights from Tuesday 1 September.

He said the evacuation exercise, which began on May 23 after the border closures in an effort to contain the spread of COVID-19, brought home more than 9,000 Ghanaians and residence permit holders from countries across the world.

The countries are South Africa, Gambia, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States of America, China, Benin, Burkina Faso and Togo.

The remainder are the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, India, Iraq, Lebanon, Liberia, Libya, Kenya, Kuwait, Mali, Oman, Qatar, Russian Federation, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, and Sierra Leone.

The statement said that to address the cases of Ghanaians in distress, the government assisted and covered the cost of travel and the quarantine of several of them, especially those who arrived from China, Iraq, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and all of the evacuation. conducted in the West African region, including students who arrived during the period.

The statement said that in doing so, the Ministry received financial support from well-meaning Ghanaians and mentioned Mr. Kennedy Agyapong, Member of Parliament from Assin Central, who made a personal donation of $ 200,000 and raised an additional $ 228,650 from his friends and associates for the evacuation of Ghanaians from Lebanon.

He also mentioned the Sethi brothers, who donated 200,000 GHC to defray the cost of quarantining passengers arriving from the UK.

The statement advised the public to continue to observe security protocols to contain the virus and strictly adhere to global travel rules and regulations before traveling, as well as to register with Ghanaian missions abroad to ensure your safety.

He expressed his appreciation to the Office of the President and the National COVID-19 Task Force comprised of the Ministries of Finance, Homeland Security, Health and Aviation, the Ghana Civil Aviation Authority, Ghana Airport Company Limited and the Ghana Health Service. for support.

Also on the list of praise are the Ghana Immigration, Police and Fire Services, the Office of National Investigations, the National Disaster Management Organization, the Ghana Armed Forces, the National Ambulance Service, the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority, Greater Accra Passenger Transport Executive (Ayalolo), International Organization for Migration and Ghanaian missions abroad.

The statement expressed its gratitude to all airlines and hotels that supported the evacuation exercise.

[ad_2]