Ghana has commenced the issuance of visas on arrival to African nationals as announced by President John Dramani Mahama in February this year.

The policy, which took effect July 1, allows citizens of African Union member states to obtain visas of up to 30 days on arrival in the country. This policy does not affect citizens of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) who can enter the country without a visa.

The AU, in its call for action, urged the abolishing of all visa requirement for Africans travelling to other African countries by 2018 and also, each citizen issued an African passport as part of its Agenda 2063 roadmap.

President Mahama said at a luncheon with senior citizens in the capital Accra on July 1 that Ghana has also established a special visa regime with Kenya and Mauritius and the implementation would increase the influx of tourists, Ghana’s news agency reports.

Ghana has been commended by the African Union which believes the Visa on Arrival policy will foster the African continental integration and the realisation of Agenda 2063.

“After Ghana, I am convinced that many other African countries will follow suit in the interest of achieving an integrated, prosperous and peaceful Africa,” Dr. Dlamini Zuma, Chairperson of the AU Commission said when Ghana announced its intention.

Ghana, therefore, becomes the first African Union member state to implement the policy which is expected to fast track socio-economic development on the continent.