Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa the Member of Parliament (MP) for the North-Tongu constituency in the Volta Region, has said government’s decision to continue with the $150 COVID-19 testing fee for non-ECOWAS members is “unconscionable”.
According to Mr. Ablakwa post on Facebook, the decision by government is not the attitude needed to fight a pandemic which requires that all global actors look out for each other.
On Sunday, January 31, 2021, President Nana Akufo-Addo said testing for COVID-19 for all nationals of ECOWAS have been capped at $50 following the 58th Ordinary Session of the Authority of Heads of State and Government of ECOWAS held on Saturday, January 23, 2021 but insisting that cost for other nationals outside the sub-region will remain at $150
Below is the full Facebook post
Finally, some progress on the matter of Ghana’s exploitative, retrogressive and punitive Antigen test cost at the airport. As I reiterated in Parliament last Friday, the President should have listened to Ghanaians long ago and not wait for an ECOWAS resolution. Ghana could have been the gold standard for ECOWAS.
Maintaining the cut-throat amount of US$150 for non-ECOWAS nationals is most unconscionable, particularly as Ghanaian nationals are not treated this way in other jurisdictions. What will be our reaction if other Governments reciprocate?
This is not the attitude needed to fight a pandemic which requires that all global actors look out for each other and especially when we are appealing to other countries through diplomatic channels to come to our aid with their vaccines. The President’s advisers have let him and all of us down. The profiteering mindset in the midst of a public health emergency of debilitating consequences is an affront.
Let me reaffirm the resolve of the NDC caucus in Parliament as contained in my Friday statement on the floor that we demand formal investigations into the entire opaque and illegal US$150 Frontiers Healthcare Services saga. We shall not relent.
Please stay safe 
Apexnewsgh.com/Ghana/Ngamegbulam Chidozie Stephen
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