US THREATHENS TO IMPOSE VISA RESTRICTIONS ON GHANA.

The United States (US) government has threatened to impose visa restrictions on Ghanaian citizens. This is because the US government says Ghana government was not complying with international obligations regarding the issuance of travel documents to Ghanaians awaiting deportation in the USA.

According to a statement issued by the US Embassy in Accra, the US will be forced to begin implementing the visa restrictions in accordance with US laws as a responsibility owed to the American people. The statement said, the Government of Ghana became a signatory to the Convention on international Civil Aviation which obliges Ghana through its Embassy in Washington D.C, and its Consulate General in New York to interview deportees on a regular basis and issue the necessary travel documents.

"This helps to facilitate deportees departure on commercial flights. When the Government of Ghana fails to meet its ICAO obligation regarding the regular issuance of travel documents, the U.S government is forced to employ charter flights for deportations. The Government of Ghana has the power to reduce, or even end the use of charter flights by meeting its obligation to issue travel documents in a timely manner," the statement said.