On March 28, 2022, Ghana reopened its land and sea borders after a two-year closure prompted by the COVID-19 pandemic, aiming to revive its struggling economy, per. President Nana Akufo-Addo announced in a televised address on March 27 that mask-wearing was no longer mandatory, as active COVID-19 cases fell below 100, per. Outdoor events could resume at full capacity for fully vaccinated individuals, and vaccinated travelers were exempted from COVID testing upon entry starting March 28, per. “It has been a difficult two years for all of us, and we are seeing light at the end of a very long tunnel,” Akufo-Addo said, urging responsible behavior, per.
Economic Motivation and Regional Context
The border reopening was driven by economic necessity, as Ghana’s economy faced challenges from a high public debt (80.1% debt-to-GDP ratio by December 2021) and rising living costs fueled by global events like the Russia-Ukraine war, per. The West African bloc ECOWAS had agreed in January 2022 to reopen land borders after regional economies lost $50 billion (6.7% of cumulative GDP) between 2020 and 2021, per. Ghana’s decision aligned with this regional push to restore trade, particularly with neighbors Ivory Coast, Burkina Faso, and Togo, per.
Impact on Border Communities
Ghanaians in border communities, heavily reliant on cross-border trade, welcomed the reopening. Joseph Mintah, a trader from Elubo near Ivory Coast, told AFP, “I have lost my business… Now I have no option than come to Accra to look for job. I’ll be returning after this,” per. Beatrice Konadu, a cosmetics and slipper seller in Aflao near Togo, said, “It has been tough for me… The president’s announcement comes as a great news, but it has been long overdue,” per. The reopening was expected to revive local economies, with traders anticipating increased activity, per.
Vaccination and Economic Challenges
By March 2022, Ghana had vaccinated 13 million people with at least one dose and 5 million (16% of the population) fully vaccinated, per the Ghana Health Service, per. Despite this, economic recovery remained difficult, with inflation at 13.9% in February 2022 and fuel prices rising due to global disruptions.
