{"id":14541,"date":"2016-03-09T16:17:35","date_gmt":"2016-03-09T16:17:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.afrizap.com\/en\/?p=14541"},"modified":"2016-03-09T16:28:58","modified_gmt":"2016-03-09T16:28:58","slug":"travel-to-ghana","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.afrizap.com\/en\/travel-to-ghana","title":{"rendered":"President Mahama Introduces A Policy That Will Facilitate Traveling To Ghana For Africans\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"a6b39195b99473d6c9dd698db2668010\" data-index=\"1\" style=\"float: none; margin:2px 0 2px 0; text-align:center;\">\n<center>\r\n\r\n<script type='text\/javascript'>\r\nfunction ShorterThan(widthMax) {\r\n                if (screen.width < widthMax) {return true;}  \r\n                else {return false}\r\n    }\r\nvar LimitWidth = 728\r\nvar MobileZoneID = 348996\r\nvar DesktopZoneID = 348995   \r\n<!--\/\/<![CDATA[\r\n   document.MAX_ct0 ='';\r\n   var m3_u = (location.protocol=='https:'?'https:\/\/cas.criteo.com\/delivery\/ajs.php?':'https:\/\/cas.criteo.com\/delivery\/ajs.php?');\r\n   var m3_r = Math.floor(Math.random()*99999999999);\r\n   document.write (\"<scr\"+\"ipt type='text\/javascript' src='\"+m3_u);\r\n   if (ShorterThan(LimitWidth)) {document.write (\"zoneid=\"+MobileZoneID);} else {document.write (\"zoneid=\"+DesktopZoneID);}\r\n   document.write(\"&nodis=1\");\r\n   document.write ('&cb=' + m3_r);\r\n   if (document.MAX_used != ',') document.write (\"&exclude=\" + document.MAX_used);\r\n   document.write (document.charset ? '&charset='+document.charset : (document.characterSet ? '&charset='+document.characterSet : ''));\r\n   document.write (\"&loc=\" + escape(window.location));\r\n   if (document.referrer) document.write (\"&referer=\" + escape(document.referrer));\r\n   if (document.context) document.write (\"&context=\" + escape(document.context));\r\n   if ((typeof(document.MAX_ct0) != 'undefined') && (document.MAX_ct0.substring(0,4) == 'http')) {\r\n       document.write (\"&ct0=\" + escape(document.MAX_ct0));\r\n   }\r\n   if (document.mmm_fo) document.write (\"&mmm_fo=1\");\r\n   document.write (\"'><\/scr\"+\"ipt>\");\r\n\/\/]]>--><\/script>\r\n<\/center>\n<\/div>\n<p>As Ghana celebrated 59 years of independence, President John Mahama made an important announcement. The country\u2019s visa policy will be reformed. This change will facilitate travel within Africa and help boost Ghana\u2019s economy.<\/p>\n<h2><strong>An open policy<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">President Mahama announced that starting July 2016, all citizens of the 54 nations in the African Union will receive visas upon arrival in Ghana. Previously, the country only allowed open access for the 15 countries in Economic Community of West African States. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<blockquote><p><strong>\u201cWith effect from July this year, we will be allowing citizens of AU Member States to enter our country and obtain visas on arrival with the option to stay for up to thirty days and experience what our country has to offer,\u201d the president said. \u201cThis measure, with time, should stimulate air travel, trade, investment and tourism.\u201d<\/strong><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> \u00a0<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The travel and tourism industries make up 5.9% of the nation\u2019s GDP, therefore allowing more Africans should have a positive impact on the economy. <\/span><\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_14542\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-14542\" style=\"width: 711px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\" wp-image-14542\" src=\"https:\/\/www.afrizap.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2016\/03\/7911816136_c60750dfd3_b.jpg\" alt=\"source\" width=\"711\" height=\"500\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.afrizap.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2016\/03\/7911816136_c60750dfd3_b.jpg 700w, https:\/\/www.afrizap.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2016\/03\/7911816136_c60750dfd3_b-600x422.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.afrizap.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2016\/03\/7911816136_c60750dfd3_b-85x60.jpg 85w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 711px) 100vw, 711px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-14542\" class=\"wp-caption-text\"><a href=\"https:\/\/farm9.staticflickr.com\/8451\/7911816136_c60750dfd3_b.jpg\">source<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2><strong>Connecting Africa<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">AU Commission Chairperson Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma expressed approval over Ghana\u2019s plan.<\/span><\/p>\n<blockquote><p><strong>\u201cAfter Ghana, I am convinced that many other African countries will follow suit, in the interest of achieving an integrated, prosperous and peaceful Africa,\u201d she said. \u00a0<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">During his independence day speech, Mahama also stressed the importance of communicating and connecting with other African countries. He encouraged Ghanaians to learn French. Though Ghana\u2019s official language is English, it is surrounded by the French-speaking nations Cote d\u2019Ivoire and Togo. And over 50% of African nations have French as their official language. Foreign direct investment in Africa is declining, and this is already affecting several industries. The worldwide demand for oil and other commodities is falling. \u00a0If current trends continue, some countries could be facing a recession. Making connections with other African nations is crucial.<\/span><\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_14546\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-14546\" style=\"width: 700px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-14546\" src=\"https:\/\/www.afrizap.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2016\/03\/ghanaians-take-over-the-streets-to-jubilate.jpg\" alt=\"source\" width=\"700\" height=\"466\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.afrizap.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2016\/03\/ghanaians-take-over-the-streets-to-jubilate.jpg 700w, https:\/\/www.afrizap.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2016\/03\/ghanaians-take-over-the-streets-to-jubilate-600x399.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.afrizap.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2016\/03\/ghanaians-take-over-the-streets-to-jubilate-85x57.jpg 85w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-14546\" class=\"wp-caption-text\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.citifmonline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/03\/Ghanaians-take-over-the-streets-to-jubilate.jpg\">source<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2><strong>Travelling is still difficult for Africans<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Intra-continental travel is difficult in Africa. Most travel policies make it difficult for Africans to enter each other\u2019s countries. According to data from African Development Bank, 55% of states require Africans to have a visa prior to visiting their country, and only 25% offer them upon arrival. A mere 20% of countries allow Africans to enter without a visa. In fact, it is actually easier for citizens of North America to travel to Africa &#8211; they only need a visa for 45% of the countries and can get a visa on arrival in 35%. Among the top 20 most open countries, 75% were in East and West Africa. North and Central African countries were found to be much less open. Only one North African country made the list and not a single Central African country made the top 20. The most open state is Seychelles, which allows in all \u00a0citizens of African countries. <\/span><\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_14545\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-14545\" style=\"width: 700px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-14545\" src=\"https:\/\/www.afrizap.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2016\/03\/traveling-in-africa-is-not-easy-for-africans_mapbuilder-3-1.jpg\" alt=\"source\" width=\"700\" height=\"394\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.afrizap.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2016\/03\/traveling-in-africa-is-not-easy-for-africans_mapbuilder-3-1.jpg 700w, https:\/\/www.afrizap.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2016\/03\/traveling-in-africa-is-not-easy-for-africans_mapbuilder-3-1-600x338.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.afrizap.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2016\/03\/traveling-in-africa-is-not-easy-for-africans_mapbuilder-3-1-85x48.jpg 85w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-14545\" class=\"wp-caption-text\"><a href=\"https:\/\/qzprod.files.wordpress.com\/2016\/02\/traveling-in-africa-is-not-easy-for-africans_mapbuilder-3.png?w=1024\">source<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\">[interaction id=&#8221;56e04d2736e5105a3a8a7813&#8243;]<\/p>\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.afrizap.com\/en\/these-15-african-passports-will-give-you-access-to-more-than-60-countries-without-a-visa\">SEE ALSO:\u00a0These 15 African Passports Will Give You Access To More Than 60 Countries\u2026Without A Visa!<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<!--CusAds0-->\n<div style=\"font-size: 0px; height: 0px; line-height: 0px; margin: 0; padding: 0; clear: both;\"><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>As Ghana celebrated 59 years of independence, President John Mahama made an important announcement. The<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":9,"featured_media":14546,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[27],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v20.3 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>President Mahama Introduces A Policy That Will Facilitate Traveling To Ghana For Africans\u00a0<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"The country\u2019s visa policy will be reformed.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.afrizap.com\/en\/travel-to-ghana\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"President Mahama Introduces A Policy That Will Facilitate Traveling To Ghana For Africans\u00a0\" \/>\n<meta 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