The President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, has announced that the government will soon implement a visa-free policy for all Africans travelling to Ghana.
According to him, the processes have begun and the expectation is to commence their implementation in 2024, which appears to be his good-bye policy.
“I know you came here not to talk but to spark action. I also know that for some of you, you had to acquire a visa to come to this event… The government of Ghana is committed to ensuring visa-free for all Africans travelling to our country, and the process has begun to get the policy implemented this year, that is, before I go,” he announced to loud applause.
President Akufo-Addo said this on Thursday, January 25, 2024 at the Peduase Presidential Lodge, Akuapim South Municipality, Eastern Region, where he opened a 3-day Conference dubbed the Africa Prosperity Dialogues 2024.
Ghana has waived visa to some African countries and granted visa-on-arrival. Holders of passports from Mauritius, Kenya, Lesotho, Tanzania, Uganda and Rwanda among other countries enjoy visa-free arrangements to Ghana.
On the other hand, holders of the Ghana Card are able to travel into the country without using their passports.
ECONOMIC INTEGRATION
The President, looking at the calibre of participants from across Africa, said he was encouraged that the continent now has a private sector that is ready, deliberate and eager to see the sixty-year-old dream of a united Africa manifest.
He observed that the focus is now on economic integration, which was not the case in previous years.
He urged the gathering to devote their energies to facilitating the free movement of people, goods and services across Africa.
UNLOCK POTENTIAL
President Akufo-Addo, in his address, advocated measures to unlock the full potential of trade for prosperity.
He suggested the prioritisation of efficient transportation and logistics infrastructure development, streamlining trade processes and embracing digital technologies that facilitate trans-border transactions without depending on foreign currencies.
PROSPECTS
Mentioning the resources that the continent is blessed with, President Akufo-Addo told the conference to remind themselves of the prospects of Africa and the potential to transform it into a global powerhouse.
He was thus excited about the Africa Prosperity Dialogues initiative, which is aimed at facilitating understanding, dialogue and commitment to the Africa Continental Free Trade Area.
Touching on the theme of this year’s dialogue, “Delivering prosperity in Africa: produce, add value and trade,” President Akufo-Addo opined that it spoke to what had to be done to make the AfCFTA meaningful.
The President expects the dialogue to emphasise that Africa must go heavy on agriculture investments.
COMMENDATION
The President, who is hosting the conference for the second time, congratulated the organisers, the Africa Prosperity Network for the vision. He said the line-up of strategic partners for the conference should encourage people to support the project.
He remarked that the dialogue provides a unique platform to mobilise Africa’s private sector to own and drive the prospects of the AfCFTA.
Concluding his address, President Akufo-Addo told participants to translate the conference into a compact document that contains a roadmap to prosperity in Africa.
APN CEO
The Acting Chief Executive Officer, Africa Prosperity Network Secretariat, Njack Kane stated in his welcome remarks that the Conference will define Africa, focusing on the theme.
He urged the participants to embrace the diversity of thought that will transform Africa, adding that the shared vision of the continent is rooted in the unique strengths of the nations that participated in the dialogue.
