The public has been asked by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration to ignore claims that Ghana and about 19 other nations have been subject to a visa ban by the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
The UAE authorities reportedly issued an instant travel ban against Ghana and 19 other African nations last week, according to many media sources.
In a statement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs insisted that “the said publication assigned no reason for the ban, but social media sources have alleged that it is aimed at keeping away visitors from African countries who usually overstay their visit visas in the UAE.”
According to the Foreign Affairs Ministry, “It has received no such communication from the authorities in the UAE and as such the story should be disregarded.”
The UAE, according to the Ministry, has just modified its requirements for visitor and tourist visas and has not banned Ghana.
“The single-day single-entry visas have been put on hold, a 60-day multiple visa regime is currently in force and travellers to the UAE should secure a round-trip ticket and a hotel booking prior to the visa application,” the Ministry stated.
Below Is The Full Statement By The Foreign Affairs Ministry
REPUBLIC OF GHANA MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND REGIONAL INTEGRATION
PRESS RELEASE
RE: ANNOUNCEMENT OF VISA BAN ON GHANAIANS SEEKING TO TRAVEL TO THE UNITED ARAB EMIRATES
ACCRA, 31 OCTOBER, 2022 – The attention of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration has been drawn to news circulating on various media platforms indicating that authorities in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have announced a visa ban on Ghana and twenty (20) other nationalities seeking to travel to the UAE with immediate effect.
According to the publication, the countries affected by the visa ban include Ghana, Sierra Leone, Sudan, Cameroon, Nigeria, Liberia, Burundi, Republic of Guinea, the Gambia, Togo, Democratic Republic of Congo, Senegal, Benin, Ivory Coast, Congo, Rwanda, Burkina Faso, Guinea Bissau, Comoros, and the Dominican Republic.
The said publication assigned no reason for the ban, but social media sources have alleged that it is aimed at keeping away visitors from African countries who usually overstay their visit visas in the UAE.
The Ministry wishes to assure the general public that it has received no such communication from the authorities in the UAE and as such, the story should be disregarded.
Meanwhile, information available to the Ministry indicates that the UAE has reviewed the requirements for tourist and visit visas.
The revision of visa regimes and requirements includes the following:
i. The 30-day single entry visas have been put on hold;
ii. A 60-day multiple visa entry regime is currently in force; and
iii. Travellers to the UAE should secure a round-trip ticket sods hotel booking prior to the visa application While assuring the general public to remain calm, the Ministry wishes to advise travelling Ghanaians to observe the new visa requirements put in place by the UAE.
Update on Ghanaians Stranded in Dubai
In other news, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration has updated the public on the situation of the Ghanaians stuck at the Al Tawadi Medical Center in Dubai.
According to a statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs that was forwarded to the Ghana News Agency, the Ministry has so far successfully repatriated more than 450 Ghanaians who were stuck at the Al Tawadi Medical Center in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, in partnership with some organizations and civic-minded people (UAE).
According to the Ministry’s findings, the majority of their countrymen who were stranded were duped by dishonest agents who made empty promises of employment in Dubai and other UAE locations.
The Mohammed Bin Rashid Al-Maktoum Humanitarian and Charity Establishment in Dubai reportedly helped evacuate 80 Ghanaians between October 24 and October 27 using Ethiopian Airlines.
Additionally, 20 Ghanaians were evacuated in September 2022 on board Egypt Air with the assistance of a person and friend of the Ghanaian government named Mr. Abdul Razaak-Daheer, according to the statement.
According to the statement, the Ministry expressed its gratitude for all those who helped the stranded Ghanaians, including Mr. Abdul Razaak-Daheer and the Mohammed Bin Rashid Al-Maktoum Humanitarian and Charity Establishment.
It said, “the Ministry wishes to reiterate that the ban on direct-to-home recruitment of Ghanaian labour migrants (house helps) to homes in the Gulf states remains in force until further notice.
“The ban, however, does not affect the lawful recruitment of skilled workers (non-domestic house helps) to the Gulf States,” it said.
“The Ministry advises travelling Ghanaians to desist from embarking on journeys via illegal routes to various parts of the world since this almost always has an unfortunate outcome.”
