The Ministry of Foreign Affairs says citizens within the ECOWAS sub-region won’t have to obtain visas before entering Ghana.
According to the Ministry, there were some media reports in Nigeria misinterpreting a statement made by President John Dramani Mahama about a move to grant citizens within the African Union traveling to Ghana, visas on arrival, meaning that those in the West African sub-region will also be affected by the policy.
But a statement signed by the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Hanna Tetteh, she said all ECOWAS citizens including those from the Federal Republic of Nigeria will continue to be allowed entry into Ghana as per the provisions of the ECOWAS Protocol.
“It has come to the attention of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs & Regional Integration of Ghana that it has been reported in some sections of the online media in the Federal Republic of Nigeria that with effect from July 2016 Nigerian citizens traveling to Ghana will have to apply for visas on arrival into our country.
“We wish to state that this is not the case, and all ECOWAS citizens including those from the Federal Republic of Nigeria will continue to be allowed entry into Ghana as per the provisions of the ECOWAS Protocol A/P.1/5/79 relating to Free movement of persons, residence and establishment, and which allows citizens of ECOWAS states to travel within the region without having to obtain visas prior to undertaking their journey.”
President John Dramani Mahama announced in the State of the Nation Address presented to Parliament on the 25th of February this year, that with effect from July 2016, Ghana would allow citizens of member states of the African Union (AU) to enter into the country and obtain visas on arrival with the option to stay for up to 30 days.
The aim of the policy, according to the President, is to open up Ghana to the rest of the continent and to stimulate increased air travel, trade, investment and tourism between the country and the rest of the continent.
“Indeed, earlier in his address, he noted that it was possible to travel within ECOWAS member states without obtaining visas but this was not generally the case within the continent.
“We believe that some may have interpreted this new policy measure as one that would be applicable to all citizens of AU member states, however this is not the case,” the statement said.
The Ministry further assured ECOWAS member states “including citizens of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, that they are welcome to travel to Ghana, and their entry into the country will not be affected by the new policy initiative we intend to introduce later this year.”
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By: Godwin A. Allotey/citifmonline.com/Ghana