Ghana will sign more visa waiver agreements in the coming months as part of a strategy to strengthen the international value of the Ghanaian passport, Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa has announced.
Speaking to journalists after bilateral engagements on the sidelines of the African Union summit in Addis Ababa, Mr Ablakwa said visa-free travel arrangements remain a top priority for the government, with major announcements expected from March through to May.
He said recent upgrades to the Ghanaian passport, including full chip-embedded technology and enhanced security systems have significantly improved its integrity, while artificial intelligence tools are now being used to combat fraud and criminal networks involved in illegal passport acquisition. He also reiterated government’s position that passports should remain affordable, following a recent 30 per cent reduction in fees.
On multilateral affairs, Mr Ablakwa disclosed that Ghana’s draft United Nations resolution seeking global recognition of the transatlantic slave trade as a grave crime against humanity has received ministerial-level endorsement. The proposal, to be tabled by President John Dramani Mahama on March 25, has undergone consultations with international bodies including United Nations, CEDAW, Economic and Social Council and Caribbean Community.
He said President Mahama, designated by the African Union as champion for the initiative, will also engage leaders at the CARICOM Summit in Saint Kitts and Nevis to deepen cooperation among people of African descent.
The Minister further noted that Ghana had withdrawn its bid for a seat on the AU Peace and Security Council to allow a united front by Economic Community of West African States, a move he described as evidence of Ghana’s commitment to regional integration and Pan-African unity, in line with the ideals of Kwame Nkrumah.