Ghana’s New Visa-on-Arrival Policy: Blessing or Curse to Africa’s Security?

Some Ghanaians are even more deeply concerned in light of recent attacks on innocent civilians by Fulani herdsmen from Ivory Coast. Related conflicts in the town of Agogo have resulted in residents wielding rifles and hundreds of cattle being shot down. Government has had to deploy military troops to keep the Fulani herdsmen at bay, providing further justification to those who believe the nation is not yet ready to ease its borders.

While some Ghanaians may feel reluctant towards the new visa policy, African Union Commission (AUC) chairperson Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma welcomed Ghana’s decision. She commended Ghana for upholding its place in the area of African continental integration, which is a key tenet towards the realization of Agenda 2063, the AU’s 50-year development plan.

“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

Even as Ghana’s government puts in place the best measures to ensure an incident-free policy, it seems the Mahama administration has much work to do to reassure citizens that the visa on arrival policy will keep them safe while also boosting tourism, expanding business opportunities and helping to achieve the dream of an integrated Africa as yearned for by the nation’s first president, Dr. Kwame Nkrumah.