In Ghana, since January 1, no citizen of the African continent has to present a visa on arrival. The country therefore joins the list of four other states on the continent to have adopted a similar policy: Rwanda, Seychelles, Gambia and Benin.
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With our correspondent in Accra, Victor Cariou
The decision was taken by the outgoing president Nana Akufo-Addo for, in particular, “ create a single homogeneous market » in Africa. “ A gesture in line with the objectives of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), in order to stimulate economic growth, job creation and the eradication of poverty »: this is how, in January 2024, the Head of State justified his desire to exempt all Africans from visas.
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A year later, and just five days before he leaves office, it is now done: the Ghana joins the very limited list of five states to guarantee visa-free entry to nationals of the continent’s 54 countries, with other African governments preferring to proceed through bilateral or community agreements.
Beyond the hoped-for positive economic benefits, emanating from an increase in tourism and continental investments, the visa exemption is not without risk. During the year of implementation, Ghana notably had to address the issue of combating cross-border crimes and strengthening the administrative capacities of its immigration system in order to guarantee the smooth running of this visa-free policy. .
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