Ghana’s parliament has reportedly approved a visa-free agreement between Ghana and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), in what could spark a mass exodus of Ghanaians to Dubai.
This is because the arrangement allows Ghanaians with passports to make the trip without a visa.
The visa waiver agreement, which was contained in a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Government of Ghana and the UAE on mutual exemption of entry visa requirements, is in respect of diplomatic, service/special, and ordinary passport holders.
Already, Ghanaians are relishing the opportunity presented by the arrangement, as several people on social media indicate their readiness to explore the opportunity to travel out of the country, due to economic hardships.
“Then Ghana’s population will reduce oo,” one social media post read.
The said agreement was initiated on November 18, 2019, to waive the visa requirements for the passport holders in Ghana and the UAE, who can stay for a period not exceeding 90 days.
The Minister for Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Shirley Ayorkor Botchway presented the MoU to the Ghanaian Parliament on May 26, 2021.
Subsequently, after a referral to the Committee on Foreign Affairs for consideration and report per Order 140(4) and 183 of the Standing Orders of Parliament, the agreement was approved on Thursday, August 5, 2021.