A bilateral visa-free deal has been signed between Ghana and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), which will see citizens of both countries enjoy free entries.
This deal was approved by the parliament for diplomatic, service/special and ordinary passport holders.
Reports say the deal was because the holders’ conduct are usually in line with public and state security apparatus.
Approved in August, the deal follows the adoption of the foreign of the adoption of the Foreign Affairs Committee Report on the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Ghana and the UAE.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Shirley Ayorkor Botchway, had presented the MoU to the House on May 26, 2021. The concent provides that Ghanaians can henceforth stay in UAE for more than three months.
Details of the agreement comprises structured visa regimes for both countries and not impose obligations to admit people who are considered to be of questionable character.
According to the Ghanaian parliament, while visa waiver arrangements to facilitate the movement of diplomats and government officials are common, this deal makes ordinary passport holders beneficiaries.
Note that in Henley and Partners’ current world’s passport ranking, Nigeria is ranked 101 with 46 access countries with Ghana on 84 with 64 access countries.
