Minority demands probe into contested COVID test results at KIA

The Minority in Parliament is demanding a probe into claims of fake Covid-19 results for travelers at the Kotoka International Airport.

The demand follows the circulation of some viral videos of some travelers contesting the positive COVID-19 results from Frontiers Health Services.

Speaking to the media, a Minority Spokesperson on health Kwabena Minta Akandoh asked for a second opinion on the results of the travelers contesting their positive results within a week.

The Juaboso MP condemned the attempt to use security personnel to harass the victims.

Mr. Akandoh further admonished Frontiers which conducts the testing at the KIA to reassess their regime.

“Our attention has been drawn to the fact that a lot of travelers who are going through covid testing at the Kotoko International Airport are doubting the results of those tests.

“Videos and audios have gone viral to that effect and it will be irresponsible on our part as a minority to say due to that government must stop doing the testing at our entry point.”

He went on “notwithstanding, we will recommend to the government [health and transport ministers] within one week to as a matter of urgency put their heads together and come out with a measure that will afford those who are doubting their Covid status an independent opinion of their status. if possible at their own cost.”

He suggested “we have noticed that there are a number of Covid centers within that same catchment area. We have the Immigration Clinic where we have the Covid testing center, Airpot Clinic, Nyaho, and some other labs within that particular enclave.”

Mr Akandoh was however upset about the use of the security to intimidate travelers saying “and what I describe as unacceptable is the attempt to intimidate and use the security against them when they are speaking out. I think that that’s highly unacceptable and it must be stopped with immediate effect.”

“And I’m also drawing the attention of the people doing the testing i.e Frontiers Healthcare that they must check their reagents, they must check their equipment, if it is found out their equipment are deficient, we will not hesitate to call on the government to abrogate their contract.”

“It’s a huge concern, in the initial stages we thought that no matter what, we could have one or two people complaining about the system so you thought it was normal, but I think it is becoming too many and therefore we just have an alternative to this particular situation. But for now we will give them the benefit of doubt to call for an independent alternative to double-check.”