Coronavirus: Britain repatriates 700 citizens stranded in Ghana because of air travel restrictions

20 Mai 2020

Accra, Ghana, May 20 (Infosplusgabon) - The British High Commission in Accra has flow home 700 nationals who were stranded in Ghana due to the closure of the airspace and borders as part of measures to curtail the spread of COVID-19  (coronavirus).

Mr Iain Walker, the British High Commissioner, told journalists in Accra on Tuesday that the exercise was targeted at tourists and short-term travellers, since they were likely not to have access to long-term accommodation and welfare provisions.

He said the exercise being carried out across the world by the British Government is to get their citizens, who find themselves in distress situations, safely back home.

“We’re ensuring that the most vulnerable British travellers who want to return home from Ghana can do so," Mr Walker said.

"I understand some people will be disappointed not to have been able to secure a ticket. The UK government is working closely with airlines, the authorities and other governments to make sure options are available for citizens to return to the UK as soon as possible," he said.

He said even though the passengers had gone through the process of testing for COVID-19 before departure, mandatory quarantine was part of the British Government’s directives in curbing the further spread of the virus in the UK.

Mr Walker also said the British High Commission is continuing to work closely with the Ghana Government to tackle the threat of the virus.

“Whether that is UK funding to support Ghanaian companies to produce Ghanaian made PPE (personal protective equipment), looking to utilise UK Foreign Direct Investment to build new hospitals, or supporting projects to enable millions of school children stuck at home to continue learning, we are doing what we can to support our friend, Ghana, during this difficult time," he said.

FIN/ INFOSPLUSGABON/ERD/GABON2020

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