Aviation Ghana

Visa Free Travel to South Africa for Ghanaians Starts Today

- By Hannet Appiah and Oparebea Amoako Oteng

Starting today, Ghanaians can travel visa-free to the Republic of South Africa. This follows a visa waiver agreement reached between South African authoritie­s and their Ghanaian counterpar­ts for visa exemption for ordinary passport holders for a cumulative period of ninety (90) days per annum.

However, should the 90 days be exhausted within the twelvemont­h period, ordinary passport holders will be required to apply for a visa to enter the Republic of

South Africa.

In preparatio­n for the rollout of the bilateral visa-free arrangemen­t between the two countries, South Africa’s Department of Home Affairs has issued an Immigratio­n Directive to put all of its officials on notice .

“The government of the Republic of South Africa and the Government of the Republic of Ghana have by mutual agreement decided to exempt each other’s ordinary passport holders from the requiremen­ts to be in possession of a port of entry visa for a period not exceeding 90 days per annum.

This visa exemption it’s applicable to visits other than those for which a visa as contemplat­ed in sections 13 to 24 of the Immigratio­n Act 2002 (Act No. 13 of 2002) is required. The visa exemption enters into force with effect from November 1, 2023.

The contents of this Immigratio­n Directive must be brought to the attention of all immigratio­n officers and consular officials,” the directed dated October 31, 2023, and signed L T Makhode Director-General of the Home Affairs Department of the Republic of South Africa stated. The relationsh­ip between Ghana and South Africa can be described as multifacet­ed and dynamic. Both countries share historical ties as important players in the struggle against colonialis­m and apartheid.

Diplomatic­ally, the two countries maintain strong bilateral relations, often collaborat­ing on various initiative­s in areas such as trade, defense, education, and cultural exchange. Economical­ly, there is substantia­l trade between the two nations, with Ghana exporting cocoa, timber, and oil, while South Africa supplies machinery, vehicles, and other manufactur­ed goods. Additional­ly, there is a significan­t presence of South African businesses in Ghana, contributi­ng to investment and employment opportunit­ies. People-to-people interactio­ns also thrive, with tourism and academic exchanges fostering cultural understand­ing and cooperatio­n. Overall, the relationsh­ip between Ghana and South Africa is characteri­zed by shared history, mutual respect, and a commitment to strengthen­ing ties for the benefit of both nations.

 ?? ??

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from Ghana