All passengers flying to Ghana must now complete an electronic health declaration before travel and present the generated QR code to Port Health officers on arrival.

Ghana adds a pre-travel health form

Ghana has introduced a new health-related entry requirement for travellers as part of measures intended to keep Ebola out of the country. In a statement dated November 3, 2026, the Ministry of Health announced expanded screening and monitoring procedures, to be implemented by the Ghana Health Service.

The rules apply to every passenger arriving at Ghana’s international airports, regardless of nationality or the country from which they are travelling. A central requirement is the Ghana Health Declaration, an electronic form that must be completed before departure through the official Ghana Health Service platform.

The online service is designed to give health authorities information needed to assess possible Ebola-related risks before passengers enter Ghana. The form is available in English and includes guidance in French. For children younger than 12, a parent or legal guardian must complete the declaration.

The declaration generates a QR code

The electronic declaration is structured in six stages, covering both personal and health information. Travellers are asked to review health guidance, provide identity and contact details, give information about their journey and recent movements, answer questions on symptoms and potential Ebola exposure, enter their accommodation address in Ghana, and confirm the final declaration.

  • Preliminary information on health guidelines and requirements.
  • Personal information, including identity, nationality, travel document details and contact information.
  • Travel information, including countries visited or transited through in the previous 21 days.
  • A health questionnaire covering symptoms and possible Ebola exposure.
  • Accommodation details for the stay in Ghana, including relevant contacts.
  • A final review and confirmation of the submitted information.

After submission, the system issues an individual QR code. Passengers must keep this code available so it can be shown to Port Health officers when they arrive in Ghana. The platform also allows travellers to retrieve a confirmation that has already been issued.

Authorities have not stated how many hours or days before departure the form must be filed. However, passengers are required to complete it before they go through health screening on arrival.

A close view of colorful woven kente cloth and carved wooden stools at an open market in Kumasi on a bright afternoon
Ghana’s new health declaration applies to air arrivals nationwide and is separate from normal immigration requirements.

Airport screening expands for international arrivals

The online declaration forms part of wider health surveillance at Ghana’s international airports. According to the Ministry of Health, all arriving international passengers will undergo screening that includes non-contact temperature checks, review of the health declaration and, when needed, additional questions about health and travel history.

Travellers must disclose whether, in the previous 21 days, they travelled to or transited through a country affected by Ebola. They must also report close contact with a suspected or confirmed Ebola case, visits to healthcare facilities treating Ebola patients, participation in funeral or burial ceremonies involving a suspected case, or exposure to blood, bodily fluids or potentially contaminated materials.

Passengers with symptoms consistent with Ebola, those who recently passed through affected areas, or anyone who may have been exposed to the virus can be sent for further medical assessment. Depending on the case, they may be temporarily isolated in a designated area for evaluation and transferred to a healthcare facility if necessary.

Some passengers may be monitored after arrival

The measures do not end at the airport for all travellers. Ghana has also introduced health monitoring for up to 21 days for passengers arriving from countries where Ebola transmission is ongoing. Those travellers may be contacted by the Ghana Health Service, must remain reachable during the monitoring period and must immediately report any symptoms that develop.

This follow-up monitoring is not automatic for every international passenger. It is targeted at travellers arriving from countries with ongoing Ebola transmission. Hotels and other accommodation providers hosting visitors from Ebola-affected countries have also been given responsibilities: they must report those guests to the appropriate health authorities and keep contact information needed for follow-up monitoring.

Authorities warned that false information, hiding symptoms or refusing to comply with health screening may lead to public health measures being enforced under Ghanaian law.

Precautionary response to regional Ebola concerns

The new rules come amid concern over Ebola outbreaks caused by the Bundibugyo virus in several African countries. Ghanaian officials stressed that, as of the November 3 announcement, no confirmed Ebola cases had been recorded in Ghana.

Health Minister Kwabena Mintah Akandoh described the measures as precautionary and said they would be reviewed as the epidemiological situation changes. The steps also align with commitments made at a recent ministerial meeting of the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, where participating countries agreed to strengthen border surveillance while keeping international travel and cross-border movement open.

Preparations for the electronic system had already begun before the announcement. In an October 29, 2026 update, the Ghana Health Service said Port Health personnel at Accra’s international airport had been trained on the new platform.

The health declaration does not replace Ghana’s existing immigration rules. U.S. passport holders still need a visa before travel, obtained through a Ghanaian embassy or consulate or, where eligible, through Ghana’s e-Visa system. Requirements for African nationals vary: some, including many ECOWAS member-state travellers, are exempt from both visa and ETA requirements, while others must secure a free Electronic Travel Authorization before arrival. Existing health requirements, including the mandatory yellow fever vaccination certificate, also remain separate.

For travellers, the change means Ghana-bound air passengers should add the health declaration and QR code to their pre-departure checklist alongside visas, vaccination documents and airline requirements. For the travel industry, the measure adds a new compliance step while Ghana seeks to maintain cross-border movement during heightened regional health surveillance.