The Special Representative of the President of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to Liberia, Ambassador Babatunde Ajisomo, has underscored the need for coherence and harmonization in the fees being charged travellers for Covid-19 test by authorities of countries in the region.
Authorities of several countries in the region including Liberia, Ghana and Sierra Leone, among others are charging separate fees for Covid-19 test to travellers departing and arriving into their respective countries.
But according to Ambassador Ajisomo, separate fees charged by member states of ECOWAS for Covid-19 testing has become a major concern for citizens and foreign friends or investors who intend to do businesses in those countries. He made these comments recently when he spoke at the opening of a three-day training aimed at strengthening the capacity of law enforcement operatives from Mano River Union (MRU) countries at the Farmington Hotel in Margibi County.
The training of trainers was also intended to enhance the thorough and scrupulous implementation of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Free Movement Manual has begun in Liberia.
Ambassador Ajisomo pointed out that most people are finding it very difficult to travel to and from ECOWAS nations as a result of the disparity in the fees being charged for Covid-19 test in these countries. His comments were in direct response to a concern raised by Ivorian Ambassador accredited to Liberia during the training.
“The Ivorian Ambassador wanted to know what is ECOWAS doing or what is ECOWAS going to do with respect to the payment of Covid-19 test which has become a concern for everybody including the operatives, our friends and investors that want to come and invest. People are finding it very difficult to travel”.