The government of Ghana and Jamaican government have both waived entry visa requirements for citizens, respectively wanting to travel to and from these two countries, with effect from 1st July, 2019 to solidify the relationship between the Ghanaian and the diaspora.
This was disclosed at a press conference addressed by the President of the Republic, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, and the Prime Minister of Jamaica, Andrew Holness, after the two held bilateral discussions in Kingston, Jamaica, on Saturday, 15th June, 2019, as part of President Akufo-Addo’s two-day official visit to Jamaica.
Stressing the importance of Ghana-Jamaica relations, the President indicated that the two nations have an excellent opportunity to building on their strong ties, imposed by culture and history, so as to derive maximum economic value for their respective populations.
President Akufo-Addo added that, the Ghana-Jamaica waive is to facilitate and also make it easier for the Ghanaian diaspora to come and join forces with the indigeons to mark the ‘Year of Return.
Describing Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade as a “horrendous episode of human history”, President Akufo-Addo explained that Ghana is keen on commemorating this event, largely because a large number of slaves came through slave forts located in Ghana, adding that, they want to commemorate it, to be able to say together that never again will Africa and her people permit themselves to be subjugated to these types of dehumanizing and inhumane events.
Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo revealed that, they want to use the symbolism of this year to take concrete steps to solidify the relations of their kith and kin in the Americas and the Caribbean. The relationship they formed in Jamaica will form part of the process of solidifying the relations between those on the continent of Africa and in the diaspora.
He stated that, his visit to the Caribbean has been to strengthen the relations across the water, and build the bridge over the Atlantic to find a way of strengthening each other in growing and empowering the economies, to play a more critical role in the new global architecture that is being drawn up now.
President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo explained that, when properly structured, the Commission will serve as a legal framework for the doing of business between the two countries, adding that, it has come to the time to give teeth to those relations by making sure the various areas of engagement in education, tourism and cultural activity are specifically tied down.
The two leaders pledged to reactivate the Ghana-Jamaica Permanent Joint Commission for Co-operation, which has been dormant for some time.
