Travelers planning a trip to Ghana must now complete an additional health-related entry requirement before departure.
In a statement issued on November 3, 2026, Ghana’s Ministry of Health announced new screening and monitoring measures aimed at preventing the Ebola virus from entering the country.
Implemented by the Ghana Health Service (GHS), the measures apply to all passengers arriving at Ghana’s international airports, regardless of nationality or country of departure.
One of the key requirements is a health declaration that must be completed before travel through a dedicated online platform.
Travelers must complete an online health declaration before departure
Ghanaian authorities have introduced an official portal where travelers can complete the new health declaration: ehds.ghs.gov.gh.
Known as the Ghana Health Declaration, the online service allows passengers to provide health authorities with the information needed to assess potential risks before they enter the country.
The electronic form consists of six steps:
- Preliminary information: An overview of health guidelines and requirements.
- Personal information: The traveler’s identity, nationality, travel document details, and contact information.
- Travel information: Details of the trip, including countries visited or transited through during the previous 21 days.
- Health questionnaire: Information about any symptoms and potential exposure to the Ebola virus.
- Accommodation details: The address where the traveler will stay in Ghana and relevant contact information.
- Final declaration: Review and confirmation of the information provided.
The portal is available in English and also provides guidance in French.
For children under 12, the declaration must be completed by a parent or legal guardian.
Once the form has been submitted, an individual QR code is generated. Travelers must keep this code available to present to Port Health officers upon arrival in Ghana.
The portal also includes a feature allowing passengers to retrieve a previously issued confirmation.
Ghanaian authorities have not specified how many hours or days before departure the declaration must be submitted. However, travelers are required to complete it before undergoing health screening upon arrival.
Ghana introduces enhanced health screening at international &irports
The electronic declaration is part of a broader set of health monitoring measures being introduced at the country’s international airports.
According to Ghana’s Ministry of Health, all arriving international passengers must undergo health screening, including non-contact temperature checks, a review of their health declaration, and, when necessary, additional questions about their travel history and health.
Travelers must disclose:
- Any travel to or transit through an Ebola-affected country within the previous 21 days.
- Any close contact with someone suspected or confirmed to have Ebola.
- Any visit to a healthcare facility treating Ebola patients.
- Any participation in funeral or burial ceremonies involving a suspected Ebola case.
- Any exposure to blood, bodily fluids, or potentially contaminated materials.
Passengers showing symptoms consistent with Ebola, those who have recently traveled through affected areas, or anyone who may have been exposed to the virus may be referred for additional medical assessment.
Depending on the circumstances, they may be temporarily isolated in a designated area for evaluation and transferred to a healthcare facility if necessary.
Some travelers may face health monitoring for up to 21 days after arrival
The new measures extend beyond airport screening.
Ghanaian authorities have also introduced health monitoring for up to 21 days for passengers arriving from countries where Ebola transmission is ongoing.
Affected travelers may be contacted by the Ghana Health Service and must remain reachable throughout the monitoring period. They are also required to immediately report any symptoms that develop.
Unlike the electronic health declaration and arrival screening, this follow-up monitoring does not automatically apply to every international traveler.
The Ministry of Health has also introduced additional responsibilities for hotels and other accommodation providers hosting visitors from Ebola-affected countries. These establishments must report such guests to the appropriate health authorities and maintain the contact information needed for follow-up monitoring.
Authorities have warned that providing false information, concealing symptoms, or refusing to comply with health screening may result in public health measures being enforced under Ghanaian law.
Ghana steps up Ebola prevention measures amid outbreaks in Africa
The new requirements come amid heightened public health concerns over Ebola outbreaks caused by the Bundibugyo virus in several African countries.
However, Ghanaian authorities emphasized that no confirmed Ebola cases had been reported in the country as of the November 3 announcement.
Health Minister Kwabena Mintah Akandoh said the measures are precautionary and will be reviewed as the epidemiological situation evolves.
They also reflect commitments made during a recent ministerial meeting of the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), where participating countries agreed to strengthen border surveillance while keeping international travel and cross-border movement open.
Preparations for the electronic declaration system were already underway in late October. In an October 29, 2026 update, the Ghana Health Service reported that Port Health personnel at Accra’s international airport had received training on the new platform.
Travelers can now complete the declaration directly through the official portal before arriving in Ghana.
The new health declaration is an additional requirement and does not replace Ghana’s existing immigration procedures. U.S. passport holders must obtain a visa before traveling to Ghana, either through a Ghanaian embassy or consulate or, if eligible, through the country’s electronic visa (e-Visa) system. Entry requirements for African nationals vary by nationality: some travelers, particularly those from ECOWAS member states, are exempt from both visa and ETA requirements, while others must obtain a free Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) before arrival.
VisasNews Take
U.S. passport holders, like all passengers arriving in Ghana by air, must complete the new electronic health declaration before traveling, even if they have not visited an Ebola-affected country. Available through the official Ghana Health Service portal, the declaration generates a QR code that must be presented to health authorities upon arrival. It does not replace other entry requirements, including the visa requirement for U.S. citizens and existing health regulations, such as the mandatory yellow fever vaccination certificate.
