General News
Ghana South Africa Visa-Free Travel Agreement Remains in Force – Ablakwa Clarifies
Ghana’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has assured the public that the Ghana South Africa Visa-Free Travel arrangement remains in force, dismissing reports claiming that Ghana has been removed from South Africa’s visa waiver programme.
The clarification follows false reports circulating on traditional and social media suggesting that Ghanaian citizens can no longer travel to South Africa without visas.
Addressing the issue, Mr Ablakwa said the reports were inaccurate and urged Ghanaians to disregard the claims.
“I also wish to address reports that circulated on traditional and social media alleging that Ghana had been removed from South Africa’s visa-free travel arrangement,” the minister stated.
He explained that South African authorities had also confirmed that no decision had been taken to terminate the agreement, which operates on a reciprocal basis between the two countries.
“As the South African authorities have themselves indicated, no such decision has been taken on this matter, which is governed by an agreement applicable on a reciprocal basis,” he said.
The Foreign Affairs Minister stressed that the existing reciprocal visa waiver agreement between Ghana and South Africa remains fully operational.
“The government therefore wishes to state categorically that the existing reciprocal visa waiver agreement between Ghana and South Africa remains fully in force.”
He added that Ghanaians should ignore any information suggesting that they have lost their right to visa-free travel to South Africa.
“The public should therefore disregard reports suggesting that Ghanaian citizens have lost the benefit of visa-free travel to South Africa.”
Mr Ablakwa further noted that any changes to the bilateral travel arrangement would only be announced through official diplomatic channels and jointly communicated by both governments.
“Any amendment to bilateral travel arrangements will be communicated formally through diplomatic channels and announced jointly by the two governments.”
The minister, however, warned that Ghana would take reciprocal action if South Africa decides to remove Ghana from the visa-free arrangement in the future.
“If Ghana is taken out of the free visa arrangement, Ghana will also have no option but to immediately reciprocate. That is how these agreements work.”
He called on the public to remain calm and avoid spreading false information about Ghana’s travel relationship with South Africa.
“We urge the public to stay calm and not to fall for this misinformation and disinformation in wide circulation,” he concluded.
The assurance comes as Ghana prepares to repatriate about 1,000 Ghanaians from South Africa following reported xenophobic attacks and rising anti-immigration sentiments among some sections of the South African population.
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