Ghana Starts Visa-On-Arrival Policy For African Union Member States

In a statement released by Francis Palmdeti, Head of Public

Affairs of the Ghana Immigration Service, Ghana has kick-

started a new visa policy which states that foreign nationals

from the African Union member states can now travel to

Ghana and be issued with visas on arrival.

The visa-on-arrival decision by the Ghanaian government was

in fulfillment of a resolution adopted at the AU Executive

Council meeting held earlier this year in Addis Ababa,

which stipulates that AU Member States should 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.

The President of Ghana, H.E. John Dramani Mahama,

announced the decision in his State of the Nations address to

the Ghanaian Parliament on 25 February 2016. “With effect

from July this year, we will be allowing citizens of AU

Member States to enter - our country and obtain visas on

arrival with the option to stay for up to thirty days and

experience what our country has to offer. This measure, with

time, should stimulate air travel, trade, investment and

tourism” he said.

Francis Palmdeti 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. Travellers must show evidence

of sufficient funds and proof of accommodation before they

are granted visas."