Ghana First To Begin Visa On Arrival Policy For AU Member States

The Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) said that foreign nationals from the African Union (AU) member states can now travel to Ghana and be issued with visas on arrival. Francis Palmdeti, Head of Public Affairs of the GIS, said on Monday in a statement that Ghana kick-starts the new visa policy.

He 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,’’ he said. Palmdeti said that the visa-on-arrival decision by the Ghanaian government was in fulfilment of a resolution adopted at the AU Executive Council meeting held earlier this year in Addis Ababa.

He said that the resolution 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. Palmdeti said Ghana became the first AU member state to adopt such a policy and has received commendation from the AU Commission for the bold step.

Comments

US Demands Immediate End To South Sudan Fighting

The United States demanded an immediate end to renewed fighting in the capital of South Sudan on Sunday, ordering all non-essential personnel out of the troubled country. "The United States strongly condemns the latest outbreak of fighting in Juba today between forces aligned with President Salva Kiir Mayardit and those aligned with First Vice President Riek Machar Teny, including reports we have that civilian sites may have been attacked," State Department spokesman John Kirby said in a statement.

Canada Police Thwart Potential Attack,Suspect Shot Dead

Canadian police shot dead an alleged Islamic State sympathizer who was about to activate an explosive device in Ontario late on Wednesday, media reports said as police confirmed thwarting a “potential terror threat”. There was no immediate confirmation from Canada’s federal police that anyone had been shot, with a statement saying only that a suspect had been identified and that they had taken “action” after receiving “credible information” about a potential attack. “Earlier today, the RCMP received credible information of a potential terrorist threat. A suspect was identified and the proper course of action has been taken to ensure that there is no danger to the public’s safety,” the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) said in a statement. They did not say where the incident took place. Media reports said the suspect was a 24-year-old man who had been arrested in 2015 for expressing support for the Islamic State group in postings on social media. He had been released in February ...

Lafarge Africa Posts N30bn Drop In Half-Year Profit

Lafarge Africa Plc, a leading cement and building solutions provider, yesterday announced a loss of N30.1 billion for the half year ended June 30, 2016, compared with a profit after tax of N27.3billion in the corresponding period of 2014.

Welcome to VinMike's Blog

Search This Blog