President Nana Akufo-Addo has disclosed that the new COVID-19 variant has been recorded at the Kotoka International Airport (KIA).

Addressing the nation on measures taken against the COVID-19 pandemic in his 22nd televised speech on 17 January 2021, the President announced that tests conducted on persons arriving in the country turned out positive for the new variant.

"Recent genomic sequencing undertaken by our scientists have established that some arriving passengers tested positive for new variants of COVID-19. These passengers have all been isolated," he said.

"Furthermore, work is ongoing to determine the presence and extent of the new variants in the general population," the president added.

The President also indicated that he has directed the Inspector General of Police to ensure the strict adherence to the measures against the spread of the virus. 

The new variant of coronavirus has been Rcorded across the globe in the aftermath of Christmas and New Year celebrations especially with harsher restrictions being imposed.

France, Germany, England, Scotland, Brazil and Wales have experienced the new variant.

With the United Kingdom being a hotspot for the rapid spread of the new variant,  a travel ban has been placed.