The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Shirley Ayorkor Botchway, is requesting all airlines not to insist on entry visas from passengers travelling to Ghana before boarding.
In a brief to all international airline operators, the Minister of Foreign Affairs Shirley Ayorkor Botchway explained this is to assist with government’s Year of Return initiative till the end of January 2020.
“To facilitate their movement, the government has reduced the visa fees and also introduced the issuance of visa-on-arrival. I am appealing to your airline to support the effectiveness and efficiency of the Ghana Government’s incentives aimed at providing easy access to an entry visa.
“It should be appreciated if those responsible for checking-in passengers travelling to Ghana are advised not to insist on entry visas prior to their boarding,” excerpts of the letter requested.
The government of Ghana has introduced new measures that would enable visitors travelling to Ghana during The Year of Return obtain visa-on-arrival. In a circular, the Ghana Embassy in the USA explained this is to manage the pressure on issuing high volumes of visas.
“The new arrangements are expected to simplify check-in procedures for boarding passengers and ease the burden on travellers who are unable to obtain Ghanaian visas in their countries of residence. The new arrangements are valid until January 2020.”
Joy Business had earlier reported on how there has been a scramble for visas at the various consulates and embassies of Ghana across the United States of America with over 15,000 visas so far been processed in New York City alone from the beginning of 2019.
Consul General of the Consulate General of Ghana in New York, USA, Professor Emeritus Samuel Amoako says pressure has mounted on his workers in meeting the huge demand for Ghana visas.