The Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA) has tried wooing travellers into Ghana in the Christmas month with the instituted Visa-on-Arrival waiver announced by the Minister of Transport.
In a statement, the Authority urged travellers to consider Ghana this Yuletide and in the New Year for their holiday experience.
The Ministry of Transport in a letter dated November 21 informed airlines operating in the country about the waiver which will be effective from December 1 to January 15 and directed them to update their system to “reflect this new arrangement and those responsible for checking-in passengers travelling to Ghana not to insist on entry visas prior to their boarding.”
Elaborating on the essence of the measure which forms part of the flagship “Beyond the Return” initiative, the GTA in their statement said the waiver is meant to attract, facilitate and increase arrivals in the country during the festive season.
“This waiver aids in strengthening Ghana’s position as the preferred destination for tourists and investors from the diaspora and beyond. It seeks to deepen the bond between Ghana and the global community while providing opportunities for cultural exchanges and economic growth.”
The visa-on-arrival waiver was first operated in December 2022, beginning on December 22 and ending on January 15, 2023.
The policy falls under the “Beyond the Return” initiative, a ten-year plan under the theme, “A decade of African Renaissance – 2020-2030”.
Beyond the Return is a ten-year project and a follow-up to the “Year Of Return” initiative which was introduced in 2019 to commemorate the 400th Anniversary of the arrival of the first recorded enslaved Africans in Jamestown Virginia in 1619 with the aim of welcoming all people of African origin to Africa, especially Ghana.
Its extended version- the “Beyond the Return”- the government says, is being built on 7 pillars including Experience Ghana, Invest in Ghana, Diaspora pathways to Ghana, Celebrate Ghana, Brand Ghana, Give back to Ghana and Promote Pan-African heritage and innovation.