Visa-on-Arrival policy will boost trade: Hamid

Pres. Akufo-Addo was among several stories leaders who attended the AU summit at Addis Ababa

The implementation of a system for nationals of other African countries to acquire a Ghanaian visa upon arriving in the country will enhance the African Union’s call to increase trade among African countries, presidential spokesperson Mustapha Hamid has disclosed.

One of the highlights of the recent 28th AU Summit in Addis Ababa was the need for member states to increase trade volumes among themselves.

Mr Hamid, who was giving a brief on the summit attended by President Nana Akufo-Addo, explained that on other continents, the volume of trade among countries was between 40 and 60 per cent while the AU found the current state of trade between African countries unacceptable.

To increase trading “the AU believes that [African] nations must open their borders to one another”, adding: “In other words, develop and open our airspaces and our borders for the free movement of goods and people on the African continent.”

He indicated that Ghana had taken various measures to open up to other African countries to boost trade.

“In Ghana it is possible for other African citizens to come here and take a visa on arrival rather than taking a visa at the point of origin,” he said.

“All other African countries have been charged to develop their railway systems and of course you know that in line with that vision our president has appointed a Minister for Railway Development and also a Minister for Aviation, so it is already a vision that the president of Ghana had before the summit.”

Meanwhile, Ghana is expected to soon implement a 0.2 per cent tax on imports to be used as additional funds for the African Union (AU).

“The African Union has taken a decision that an additional levy of 0.2 per cent be put by all African countries on imports which will be set aside and put in a fund as those governments’ contribution to the AU fund,” Mr Hamid indicated.

Mr Hamid explained that the annual budget of the AU is approximately $400 million, out of which member countries contribute between $150million and $170million and the rest sponsored by non-African states.

However, the AU agreed that “it is not acceptable for a group of sovereign and independent nations to be dependent on other nations for the running of their Union”, hence the new taxes.