Antony Blinken, the U.S. Secretary of State, announced a new visa restriction policy targeted at Ghanaian leaders on Monday, October 28, 2024.
'This policy will take effect in advance of Ghana's presidential and parliamentary elections scheduled to take place on December 7, 2024,' Blinken stated.
Blinken clarified that the visa restriction policy would apply only to specific individuals who undermine democracy and is not directed at the Ghanaian people or the Government of Ghana.
'Ghana has achieved three decades of democratic elections and the peaceful transfer of power between parties â€" a record to be proud of and a model to cherish. The United States' readiness to impose visa restrictions if circumstances warrant is an example of our support for the aspirations of all Ghanaians for a peaceful, transparent, and credible electoral process that reflects the will of the people,' he added.
According to Blinken, the policy aims to punish individuals believed to be responsible for, or complicit in, undermining democracy in Ghana. This includes actions such as manipulating or rigging the electoral process, using violence to intimidate, coerce, or prevent people from exercising their rights to freedom of association and peaceful assembly, and intimidating political party representatives, voters, civil society members, or the media. Certain family members of such individuals may also be subject to these restrictions.
'Persons who undermine democracy in Ghana â€" including in the lead-up to, during, and following Ghana's 2024 elections â€" may be found ineligible for visas under this policy,' he added.
Ghana has held peaceful, free, fair, and transparent elections for nearly two decades. However, with just two months to the polls, Ghana's biggest opposition party, the National Democratic Congress (NDC), has alleged a plot to rig the elections.
Last month, the opposition held nationwide protests demanding an audit of the voter roll, alleging thousands of unauthorized transfers and deletions of voter names.
Former President John Dramani Mahama, who lost in the 2016 and 2020 elections, is running on the opposition party ticket to succeed President Akufo-Addo, who is stepping down this year after his second and final four-year term. Mahama will face off against Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia of the ruling New Patriotic Party in this year's polls.
Wycliffe Nyamasege
Source : https://en.igihe.com/politics-48/article/u-s-warns-of-visa-restrictions-ahead-of-ghanaian-elections
