Ghana’s land borders will remain closed indefinitely to prevent a potential fourth wave of Covid-19 infections in the country.

President Nana Akufo-Addo said in a national address on Wednesday that his government was “monitoring the level of threat of the disease and ongoing vaccinations in neighbouring countries” before it can reopen borders.

“We must do everything possible, at the very least, to maintain this situation, especially as the festive season approaches,” President Akufo-Addo said.

Residents in border towns have protested against the prolonged closure of Ghana’s land borders that began when the pandemic broke out last year. Only transit cargo trucks are exempt from the border closure.

President Akufo-Addo said that the current data points to a “favorable Covid-19 situation” but urged vigilance.

Meanwhile, the Ghana Health Service (GHS) has said that large quantities of Covid-19 jabs distributed in the south-eastern Volta region have expired due to vaccine hesitancy.

Ghana has so far administered 6.4 million doses out of the 17.7 million vaccines available in the country.

The West African country has recorded over 130,000 cases and 1,243 deaths.