Ghana warns citizens of mandatory health declaration for travel to Sierra Leone

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ghana has issued a travel advisory to all Ghanaian citizens and residents planning to visit Sierra Leone. Effective from 18th June 2026, the Government of Sierra Leone has introduced a mandatory health declaration process for all travellers entering or departing the country.

This requirement forms part of broader public health security measures aimed at disease surveillance, prevention, and control.

The mandatory health declaration applies to all travellers, including Ghanaian citizens travelling to Sierra Leone, foreign nationals, residents returning to Sierra Leone, and visitors entering or departing the country.

All individuals must access the Sierra Leone Health Travel Portal at https://poep.npha.gov.sl, register and complete the Health Declaration Form within 72 hours before travel, ensure their correct and updated seat number is entered into the system before departure, and retain the confirmation QR Code.

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Reference Number generated after submission, and present the QR Code or Reference Number to the relevant authorities when requested during travel.

Providing false, inaccurate, or misleading information may result in delays, denial of entry or departure clearance, or additional health screening.

Anyone feeling unwell before, during, or after travel should immediately report to a Point of Entry Health Officer and seek medical attention.

Information submitted through the portal will be handled confidentially in accordance with data protection requirements and used solely for public health purposes.

Upon arrival in Sierra Leone, travellers may be subject to health screening and other necessary public health measures. Travellers experiencing difficulties with the online registration can seek assistance from designated Point of Entry Health personnel.

This advisory comes amid ongoing global efforts to strengthen public health surveillance following lessons learned from previous health crises. Completing the declaration early helps avoid unnecessary delays at borders and supports smoother regional travel.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs encourages all Ghanaian travellers to comply fully with these requirements to ensure safe and efficient journeys while contributing to broader public health security in the sub-region.

Travellers should visit the portal well in advance of their travel date, double-check all entered information, especially seat numbers, keep a screenshot or printed copy of their confirmation QR Code, monitor official channels for any updates to the requirements, and consult the nearest Ghanaian embassy or consulate in case of questions.

For more information and direct registration, visit the official Sierra Leone Health Travel Portal: https://poep.npha.gov.sl.

Travellers are strongly advised to treat this requirement seriously to prevent disruptions to their plans. Compliance is not only mandatory but also supports collective efforts to maintain regional health security