The Immigration Service of Ghana
(GIS) said on Friday that foreign nationals from the African Union
(AU) member states can now travel to Ghana and be issued with visas
on arrival as Ghana kick-starts the new policy.
A statement signed by Francis
Palmdeti, head of public affairs of the GIS, said the arrangement
would be piloted at the Kotoka International Airport in Accra for
three months, and thereafter extended to all other entry points of
the country.
"All AU nationals affected by this
policy who arrive in the country must have a passport, valid for at
least three months, from the date of entry; they must have a return
ticket or evidence of onward travel," it said.
According to the GIS, travelers
must show evidence of sufficient funds and proof of accommodation
before they are granted visas.
The visa-on-arrival decision by the
Ghanaian government is in fulfillment of a resolution adopted at
the AU Executive Council meeting held earlier this year in Addis
Ababa, Ethiopia.
The resolution stipulated that AU
Member States review their internal and external security realities
in an attempt to implement mechanisms allowing for the issuing of
visas on arrival for citizens of Member States, with the
possibility of a 30-day stay.
Ghana becomes the first AU member
state to adopt such a policy and has received commendation from the
AU Commission for the bold step. Enditem
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