Visa-free agreement with UAE not completed – Ghana’s Embassy clarifies

Ghana’s embassy in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has dismissed reports that the Visa Waiver Agreement between the UAE and the government of Ghana has taken effect.

A statement from the embassy on Monday, August 9, said even though a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has been signed between the two countries, the processes of executing the terms have not been completed.

The statement comes on the back of reports suggesting that Ghanaians seeking to travel to Dubai in the United Arab Emirates no longer required visas following the adoption of the MoU between the two countries by Parliament.

The visa waiver agreement, which was contained in a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Government of Ghana and the UAE on mutual exemption of entry visa requirements, is in respect of diplomatic, service/special and ordinary passport holders.

The MOU was presented to Parliament on May 26, 2021 by Foreign Affairs Minister Shirley Ayorkor Botchway, for consideration.

Chairperson of the Foreign Affairs Committee, Bryan Acheampong, indicated that the two countries had fruitful cooperation, adding that they were desirous to take the bilateral relations to another level.

According to him, the agreement constitutes a comprehensive framework on visa regimes for both countries and does not impose obligations on the two parties to admit people who are considered to be of questionable character into their territories.

He added that neither does the MoU impose any financial obligation on the two countries nor provide direct financial gains from its implementation.