US gives reason for imposing visa sanctions on Ghana
The US has explained why it slapped a visa restriction policy for individuals Washington deems responsible for undermining democracy in Ghana, as the West African country sets for the December presidential and parliamentary elections.
The US government explained that the ban would only affect persons who are undermining democracy in the country.
“This visa restriction policy would apply only to specific individuals who undermine democracy and is not directed at the Ghanaian people nor the government of Ghana,” US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a statement.
According to a July survey conducted by the pan-African research organisation Afrobarometer, confidence in Ghana’s electoral commission has never been lower since the beginning of confidence surveys in 1999.
Voters in the West African gold- and cocoa-producing nation will cast their ballots on Dec. 7 to elect a successor to President Nana Akufo-Addo, who will step down in January after serving the constitutionally mandated eight years.
Former president Mahama, 65, represents the main opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) party and Bawumia, a 60-year-old economist and former central banker, was selected by Akufo-Addo’s ruling New Patriotic Party as its candidate.
