Ghana has joined other West African countries to abolish the residence permit system for citizens of member states.<\/p>\n
Currently, West Africa citizens\u00a0are given a\u00a090-day Visa free entry into any ECOWAS member country.<\/p>\n
But a communiqu\u00e9 issued at the 45th<\/sup> Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Heads of States and Government in Accra on Thursday indicated that Ghana has adopted a new resolution that allows citizens to reside in any member state with only a biometric ID card.<\/p>\n President Mahama explained that the directive was implemented based on security issues, adding that the move will help curb the current state of terrorism, organized crime and drug trafficking within the African sub region.<\/p>\n President Mahama, who is also the Chairman of the ECOWAS, noted however that, there would be a security appraisal before the policy is fully implemented.<\/p>\n \u201cWhile you try to make it easier for our people to move across the sub region, you also make it easier for evil minded people and criminals to also move around freely and so it is necessary to appraise and see how we can share intelligence to have a better cooperation among our security network,\u201d the President explained.<\/p>\n Meanwhile, Ghana\u2019s Foreign Affairs Minister, Hannah Tetteh, says the abolition of residence permit for citizens of ECOWAS member states is yet another milestone in the quest for integration that will enhance trade and collaboration.<\/p>\n Madam Tetteh told reporters that abolition of the permit and the introduction of a biometric identity card will help “take the integration process\u00a0(between the ECOWAS states) one step further.”<\/p>\n “It accentuates free movement and allows people to cross into member states to do business,” she said.<\/p>\n “It creates a distinction between ECOWAS citizens doing business and trading within West Africa, and citizens from other parts of the world.”<\/p>\n The ECOWAS summit has\u00a0brought \u00a0leaders in sub-region\u00a0together to discuss various issues facing the African sub region.<\/p>\n Some leaders of the 15 member states that attended the meeting include the President of Mauritia, Cameroon, Chad, the President of the African Union Commission and the Secretary General of the United Nations.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n By:Marian Efe Ansah\/citifmonline.com\/Ghana
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