Social media in Ghana today was awash with news after several media houses and blogs (mine included) published a communique which directed public health COVID-19 testing labs to not charge walk-ins for covid testing.

The excitement at this news was quashed after a press conference was held today 28th January by the ministry of Information.

The Ghana Health Services Director-General Dr Patrick Kumah-Aoagye corrected this communique during the press briefing and said: “it’s not a mass testing, you will not just walk to the place and expected to be tested without a referral letter.” Travellers to the country also have to pay to get their testing done.

This means without a referral, any walk-in will be charged appropriately for the test.

That ended quickly.