No visa-on-arrival for Ghana

KATHMANDU: Nepal has stopped issuing visas-on-arrival to nationals of four African countries, including Ghana, the Nepalese Foreign Ministry said yesterday.

Foreign Ministry Spokesman Yadav Khanal said that the immigration department had sent circulars to all Nepalese diplomatic missions to inform nationals of Ghana, Nigeria, Swaziland and Zimbabwe that they must obtain entry visas from Nepalese embassies before travelling to Nepal.

He said this was to curb "suspicious activities allegedly carried out by nationals of the four countries while in Nepal."

"Nationals of Ghana, Nigeria, Swaziland and Zimbabwe will not be given entry visas at the airport or immigration posts along the border. This will affect all people holding ordinary passports," Khanal said.

Khanal added that holders of diplomatic passports of the four countries could still be issued visas on arrival.

"The measure came into effect on January 1 (and) will remain in force indefinitely," Khanal said.

Ghanaians and nationals from the three other countries have been arrested on several occasions in Nepal trying to smuggle illegal drugs. They are also accused of committing other serious crimes.

Until now, nationals of all four countries could obtain visas on arrival in Nepal.