Emirates lifts travel ban on Ghana

Emirates has lifted the travel ban that was placed on selected African countries including Ghana.

The lifting of the ban starts today Thursday January 13.

A statement said “With effect from 13 January, Emirates will resume passenger services to and from Guinea, Cote D’Ivoire, Ghana , Uganda and Angola.

“Passengers travelling from Guinea, Uganda or Ghana with final destination DXB require 48hr PCR and 6hour Rapid PCR and PCR on arrival.”

Emirates had earlier placed travel restrictions on selected African countries on entry and transit to Dubai following the Omicron variant of the coronavirus.

“Affected customers do not need to call us immediately for rebooking. Customers can simply hold on to their Emirates ticket and when flights resume, get in touch with their travel agent or booking office to make new travel plans,” Emirates said in a statement.

“Emirates regrets any inconvenience caused.

“In order to receive the latest updates on their flights, customers are also advised to ensure that their contact details are updated by visiting Manage Your Booking.”

This decision attracted criticisms from some Ghanaians including lawmaker for North Tongu Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa.

As part of his protest, Mr Ablakwa appealed to Mr Akufo-Addo to suspend his planned trip to the Dubai Expo on March 18 2022 as part of the protest.

The opposition lawmaker described the travel ban as most discriminatory and senseless decision that has been taken which must be met with strong opposition from Africans.

“Ghana , Angola Guinea , Kenya Tanzania, Uganda, Cote D’Ivoire and Ethiopia do not have an active case and hospitalization anywhere near UK, France , Italy, USA, and India whose citizens are all allowed , rightly so if I may add, to travel to and transit through Dubai.

“The other nauseating irony is that daily active case s in the UAE have now crossed 1,800, far higher than Ghana’s 1,264and yet UAE citizens can travel to Ghana whereas Ghanaians cannot travel to UAE.

He added ” I should hope that President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo of Ghana would also in protests reconsider his plan to lead a Ghanaian delegation to the Dubai Expo on March 18 20212.

“African nations continue to be soft targets in these dark schemes that perpetuate high level international racisms.”