The new variant of the COVID-19 pandemic, Omicron, has been detected in a passenger at the Kotoka International Airport.

This was disclosed by the Director-General of the Ghana Health Service (GHS), Dr Patrick Kuma-Aboagye, on Wednesday, 1 December 2021 at the lauch of the COVID-19 vaccination month.

According to the GHS Director-General, the virus was detected in a Nigerian traveller on Sunday, 29 November 2021.

He, however, noted that the new variant has not yet entered the community.

Dr Kuma-Aboagye stated: “The Omicron variant of the COVID-19 disease has been found at the Kotoka International Airport. The good thing is that in the community test done so far, we have not seen any Omicron within the community of Ghana".

“But the danger is that if someone has the Omicron, and it is incubating, it will not be found at the airport.”

The Omicron variant was first detected by South African Scientists.

Meanwhile, the government has declared the month of December as a month of vaccination against COVID-19.

The December vaccination is, therefore, to ensure the prevention of a fourth wave.

It will target specific venues and groups.

Thus, persons who are not vaccinated will be denied entry into places such as sports stadiums, restaurants, beaches among others.

About 3,493,688 Ghanaians have been vaccinated so far.