The United Kingdom (UK) government says it is working in tandem with the Ministry of Health to make Ghana’s COVID-19 vaccine certificate acceptable for travel to the UK.
This forms part of a phased review of the many COVID-19 vaccine certificates issued around the world.
The UK government recently said it will introduce new COVID-19 travel rules to England from October 4.
One of the new travel rules will require persons travelling to the UK from Ghana to self-isolate despite having received two doses of recognised COVID-19 vaccines in Ghana.
Some have criticised the new rule, saying it suggests the UK government does not recognise the vaccines administered in Ghana as being the same as those administered in the UK.
The UK government in a statement however refuted this claim, stressing that “statements that COVID-19 vaccines administered in Ghana are not approved by the UK are untrue.”
“Following a pilot with the United States of America and the European Union, the UK is working to recognise vaccine certificates from other countries as part of a phased review of the many Covid-19 vaccine certificates issued across the world.”
“This includes recognising Ghana’s vaccine certificate, and in the spirit of our long term partnership, we are working with Ghana’s Ministry of Health to ensure that this happens as soon as possible,” the statement added.
Don’t use COVID-19 vaccine as an immigration control tool – Nana Addo to world leaders
President Akufo-Addo had earlier made an appeal to world leaders not to use the COVID-19 vaccine and vaccination as a tool for immigration control, as that will be retrogressive.
Addressing the 76th United Nations General Assembly in New York, the President said it is unfortunate that some countries, especially in Europe, are not recognizing vaccinations with the Oxford–AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine manufactured in India.
His main concerns stem from the fact that many African countries received the vaccine through the COVAX facility.
“One unfortunate development appears to be the recent measures on entering into some countries in Europe which suggests that Covidshield, the Oxford AstraZeneca vaccine manufactured in India, are not recognised by these countries,” he said.
“What is intriguing is the fact that this vaccine was donated to African countries through the COVAX facility. The use of vaccines as a tool for immigration control will be a truly retrogressive step. The last time there was such an upheaval in the world was during the second world war, which led to the establishment of new world order,” he added.
