Latest news with #ForeignAffairsandRegionalIntegrationCommittee
Business Insider
26-07-2025
- Business
- Business Insider
Ghana adds two non-African countries to visa-free list in push for global ties
In a major diplomatic move, Ghana's Parliament has approved visa-free agreements with four countries - Mozambique, São Tomé and Príncipe, Colombia, and the Commonwealth of Dominica marking an expansion of the country's visa-free travel regime. Notably, the inclusion of non-African countries - Colombia and the Commonwealth of Dominica signals Ghana's deepening push to build global partnerships beyond the African continent. Ghana's Parliament approved visa waiver agreements with Mozambique, São Tomé and Príncipe, Colombia, and the Commonwealth of Dominica. The visa waivers apply to holders of diplomatic, service, and ordinary passports and aim to foster developmental partnerships. The policy aligns with Ghana's continuing commitment to regional and global integration and mobility enhancements. The visa-free agreements, as presented on the floor of Parliament by the Chairman of the Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration Committee, Alfred Okoe Vanderpuije, apply to holders of diplomatic, service, and ordinary passports. According to Vanderpuije's presentation, the waiver is expected to boost partnerships in key sectors such as education, energy, trade, tourism, and agriculture. The announcement signals Ghana's ongoing efforts to strengthen multilateral ties through enhanced mobility and cooperation. Also speaking before Parliament, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, stated that the visa waivers will not lead to immediate or direct revenue losses. While acknowledging that visa fees will be waived, Ablakwa noted that the broader economic benefits, particularly in trade and tourism, are expected to significantly outweigh any potential fiscal impact. He described the initiative as part of a long-term strategy to deepen bilateral cooperation and unlock shared socio-economic advantages. Ghana's move to enable visa free travel Just before leaving office, Ghana's former President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, approved visa-free entry for all African nationals making Ghana the fifth African country to remove visa requirements for holders of African passports. The decision marked a significant step toward regional integration, aligning with the African Union's goal of free movement across the continent. Since assuming office in January 2025, President John Dramani Mahama's administration has not only embraced this legacy but moved to deepen Ghana's commitment to open-border diplomacy. In a bold expansion of the visa-free policy, the Mahama-led government recently extended visa-free access to non-African countries which includes São Tomé and Príncipe, Colombia, and the Commonwealth of Dominica. This strategic outreach reflects Ghana's ambition to position itself as a gateway to Africa, while also strengthening South-South cooperation and economic diplomacy beyond the continent. The inclusion of these countries—two from Latin America and two from Africa signals Accra's broader vision to foster global partnerships, boost tourism and trade, and enhance Ghana's soft power on the world stage. Officials close to the policy suggest that more countries may be added in the coming months, especially those with strong bilateral ties or mutual trade interests with Ghana. The move is also expected to encourage reciprocal agreements, allowing Ghanaian travelers greater ease of movement globally. Together, these efforts position Ghana as a leader in Africa's mobility agenda—championing integration not only within the continent but also building new bridges with emerging partners across the Global South.
Ya Biladi
20-05-2025
- Politics
- Ya Biladi
Ghanaian parliamentary delegation visits Morocco to strengthen bilateral ties
A Ghanaian parliamentary delegation, led by Alfred Okoe, Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee, is currently visiting Morocco. On Monday, May 19th, in Rabat, the delegation was received by Minister of Foreign Affairs Nasser Bourita and the Speaker of the House of Representatives Rachid Talbi Alami. In a statement to the press broadcast during the evening news on Al Aoula channel, Alfred Okoe emphasized the «common interests» that unite Morocco and Ghana. The delegation also includes Norgbey Ernest Henry, Chairman of the Youth and Sports Committee; Cletus Seidu Dapilah, Vice-Chairman of the Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration Committee; Peter Lanchene Toobu, Vice-Chairman of the Defense and Interior Committee; Samuel Abulai Jinapor, member of the Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration Committee; Asiedu Ida Adjoa, member of the Defense and Interior Committee; along with several officials and administrative staff. This visit follows, by nearly three weeks, the trip of Ghana's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, to Algiers. On January 7th, Ghana announced the suspension of its diplomatic relations with the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR).
Maroc
20-05-2025
- Politics
- Maroc
Morocco, Ghana Promote Parliamentary Collaboration
Speaker of the House of Representatives Rachid Talbi El Alami received, on Monday at the House's headquarters in Rabat, Chairman of the Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration Committee of the Parliament of Ghana, Alfred Okoe Vanderpuije, currently on a working visit to the Kingdom at the head of a high-level parliamentary delegation. During the meeting, also attended by Ambassador of the Republic of Ghana to Morocco Charity Gbedawo, Talbi El Alami praised Ghana's decision and position in favor of Morocco's territorial integrity, while welcoming the renewed momentum in relations between the two countries at several levels, particularly at the parliamentary level, according to a press release from the House of Representatives. In this sense, he reviewed the Strategic Vision of His Majesty King Mohammed VI aimed at strengthening South-South cooperation with African countries, highlighting several pioneering Royal Initiatives, notably the Morocco-Nigeria gas pipeline project, the Atlantic African States initiative, and the initiative to grant landlocked Sahel countries access to the Atlantic Ocean. For his part, Okoe Vanderpuije spoke of his pride at visiting Morocco, saying that the trip reflected the depth of the historic ties of friendship uniting the two brotherly peoples. He also expressed his country's keenness to strengthen cooperation with the Kingdom in various fields, including agriculture, trade, investment, air transport, education, employment and sustainable development. MAP: 20 mai 2025
