Kenya moves to address eTA visa issues affecting Ghanaians

The Kenyan government has set up a committee to address issues over the implementation of its electronic Travel Authorisation (eTA). As part of efforts to make Kenya visa-free for all, the East African country replaced the eVisa with the Electronic Travel Authorization (Kenya eTA), for which citizens of all countries are eligible to apply. Tourists, by the new policy, are no longer required to apply for a visa. Instead, they can complete the eTA application process, pay the required fees, and get their permits within three days. This arrangement has, however, adversely affected citizens of countries such as Ghana that hitherto didn’t need an eTA and were not required to pay for visa-on-arrival. Speaking in an interview with AviationGhana on the sidelines of the first event of a three-city West African road show by the Kenya Tourism Board held in Accra on February 5, 2024, Kenya’s High Commissioner to Ghana, Eliphas Barine, said: “A committee has been set up to address the issues with the eTA so that those who previously didn’t need an authorisation, didn’t have to pay are looked at and addressed. “The Kenya Tourism Board (KTB) and Kenya Airways are leading over 15 travel trade companies to showcase the various offerings of the East African destination and form meaningful, mutually beneficial partnerships with their Ghanaian and Nigerian partners. The roadshow, dubbed the Magical Kenya West Africa Roadshow, sees the team engage key players in Accra, Lagos, and Abuja, two key markets for Kenya, from February 5th to 9th, 2024. “So, the whole idea is for us to share experiences and build connections. When I see the teams here, it’s not just about business; it’s about friendship, skills development, networking, and more. The roadshow being presented here offers us a tremendous opportunity to share insights, collaborate, and promote tourism between our two countries,” he said.