Ghanaians can now travel to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) without a visa.
On Thursday, August 5, 2021, Parliament passed an agreement that will allow Ghanaians and UAE passport holders to enter the country without a visa.
The agreement is for diplomatic, service/special, and regular passport holders and is contained in a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Governments of Ghana and the UAE on mutual exemption of entrance visa requirements.
The agreement was signed on November 18, 2019 with the goal of exempting these passport holders from visa requirements in Ghana and the UAE for a duration of up to 90 days.
Shirley Ayorkor Botchway, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Cooperation, submitted the MoU to the House of Commons on May 26, 2021, and it was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs for discussion and report in accordance with Standing Orders 140(4) and 183.
During a presentation of their report, Chairman of the Committee Bryan Acheampong stated that Ghana and the UAE had enjoyed good cooperation, suggesting that the two countries wanted to take their bilateral relations to the next level.
According to him, the agreement establishes a complete framework for both countries' visa regimes and does not obligate the two parties to admit people of doubtful character into their respective countries.
He stated that neither the MoU nor its execution imposed any financial obligations or provided any financial benefits to the two countries.
The Abetifi MP stated that the agreement was designed to produce a win-win situation for both nations, adding that the relaxed visa entrance requirement is projected to provide enormous benefits to Ghanaians and UAE people through improved relations, trade, and bilateral cooperation.
Visa waiver arrangements to assist the travel of diplomats and government officials are common, according to Mr. Acheampong, but this one makes ordinary passport holders beneficiaries.