China beckons Ghanaians; No visa

 
By Maxwell Ofori, Parliament House
[email protected]
Ghana has gone into an agreement with five countries on the waiver of visa requirements to foster relations between them.

The agreement would ensure the development of robust collaborative linkages in all sectors of the economies of the partner countries involved in the agreement.

The five countries, namely; the People’s Republic of China, Republic of Sudan, Republic of Cuba, Republic of Seychelles and Republic of Turkey, would have its citizens holding particular passports, and entering the territories of the stated parties with no difficulty.

A report, which was presented to Parliament by the Committee on Foreign Affairs yesterday, and sighted by The Chronicle, indicated that desirous of deepening relations between Ghana and the nations concerned, and the need to facilitate improved interactions between citizens and officials of Ghana and the said countries, Ghana entered into the agreement with those countries.

The report noted that the agreement was entered separately, as the government of Ghana and the government of the People’s Republic of China agreed on mutual visa exemption for holders of diplomatic and service passports.

This was signed on February 17, 2015, for nationals who hold diplomatic passports and service passports to be able enjoy a free visa stay in Ghana or China for a period not exceeding ninety days in an instance.

However, conditions by which the affected persons will require a visa would be if the affected persons need to stay more than 90 days to engage in work, news reporting, or any activities which shall be approved in advance by the other contracting party’s competent authorities.

Also, on October 18, 2016, there was an agreement between the government of the Republic of Ghana and the government of the Republic of Cuba, regarding the waiver of visa requirements for holders of diplomatic, official and service passports,for a period not more than 90 days in an instance.

The agreement between Ghana and the Republic of Seychelles was on a short-stay visa waiver, which was signed on May 20, 2016. Nationals of the two countries can enjoy this waiver, but for a period not beyond sixty days, and not more than 90 days cumulatively in one year.

Furthermore, the Republic of Ghana, on August 20, 2014, signed an agreement with the government of the Republic of Sudan, on the visa exemption for holders of diplomatic, officials and service passports, for a period not exceeding thirty days in an instance.

Again, on March 24, 2011, there was an agreement signed between the government of the Republic of Ghana and the government of the Republic of Turkey, concerning a mutual abolition of visas for holders of diplomatic passports. These passports holders can enjoy the waiver for a period not exceeding 90 days within any 180 days period, commencing from the date of the first visa. Notwithstanding, beneficiaries wishing to stay beyond the 90 days period of visa exemption will need to apply for visas.

According to the committee’s report, the agreement were restricted to holders of diplomatic and other official passports, to ensure easy management, given the fact that the holders are often public officials whose backgrounds and conducts were within the purview of the public, and therefore, of the security apparatus of the state, citing that in the light of the foregoing, the agreement posed no security risk to the country.

“The committee observed that the agreement does not impose any financial obligation on the parties, neither will any country obtain direct financial gains from the implementation,” the report noted.