National Communications Officer of the opposition National
Democratic Congress (NDC), Sammy Gyamfi has described the $150 COVID-19-test at
the Kotoka International Airport(KIA) as thievery on the part of the ruling New
Patriotic Party(NPP) government.
According to him, the covid-19
test is an essential tool in the risk minimization in the fight against
covid-19, and therefore should be cheaper for Ghanaians to easily afford.
“We in the NDC are very much
concerned about the charge per antigen test [covid-19] of $150. Our
investigations show that the deal and the circumstances under which that
company was engaged is shady, opaque, illegal and that the terms of the
transaction or the amount being charged is a rip-off”, he mentioned on an
Accra-based radio station, monitored by MyNewsGh.com
He further said that the charge
is a deliberate move by the NPP government to steal from the people, whilst
impoverishing them.
“We think what is happening is a
clear case of profiteering which should not be countenance in this country.
That is why we are using this vetting process to hold into account persons
[Ministers] who are entrusted with the responsibility for the welfare of the
people.”
“Malawi charges 25$ for antigen
test, Malaysia charges $28 per antigen test and India charges $28. Heathrow per
my checks; I’m quoting Honorable Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa–let me commend him for
the yeoman job on this–, charges $75”, he pointed out.
“There is a difference between
PCR test and antigen test. PCR Test is a standard test. If you look at
countries like Sierra Leone which is doing PCR test which is too expensive than
antigen test at $80, Senegal is doing PCR test at $75, Rwanda is doing PCR test
at $60, Djibouti is doing PCR test at $28 dollars, Germany $70 dollars, Turkey
$16 dollars. So why Ghana should be doing an inferior test at $150”, the
outspoken Sammy Gyamfi said.
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