Ras Mubarak: Ghana’s Visa Waiver Push Hindered by Overstays; “Attitude” Costing Bilateral Deals

Leader of the Trans Africa Tourism/Unity Campaign, Ras Mubarak, says Ghana’s failure to secure visa waivers with key countries like India, the USA and UK is linked to citizens overstaying their visas abroad.

Discussing on current visa waivers announced by the Foreign Minister, Okudzeto Ablakwa, via zoom on Kessben TV’s Digest show, Mubarak explained that, Ghana have several visa agreement with many countries of which some are visa on arrival. He described visa-free access as _“a step in a good direction without necessarily queuing for visas before traveling to those countries,”_ adding that _“it also give business opportunities to nationals.”_

According to Mubarak, countries assess more than just diplomacy before granting waivers. They also look at security concerns, if the crime rate is high in your country no one would want to associate with you, he said.

He added that, we are not getting visa waivers in the India, USA and UK because some of our citizens are fond of overstaying their visas and that has cause us, he stated.

Mubarak clarified the scope of such agreements insisting that Visa waivers are not for permanent stay, some are 30 days, 60 days, 2 weeks and 90 days but some of our people are stubborn and lawless by overstaying their visas.

He stressed that it all bothers on our attitude as a people, we used to have visa waivers with some countries and we lost them because we frown on their laws.

He reiterated that the more visa waiver we get the better for us as a country, linking travel access to economic opportunity.

Despite the challenges, he said Ghana’s international image remains strong. _“I have seen 103 countries, when you mention Ghana they accord us with great respect, they mention Abedi Pele, Michael Essien, Asamoah Gyan, he said , apart from Dr. Kwame Nkrumah’s outstanding achievement in the geopolitical scene.

In conclusion, he recalled Ghana’s post-independence influence when country like Singapore sent civil servant to learn from Ghana when they gained independence in 1960.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration has not yet commented on ongoing negotiations for new visa waiver agreements.