The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has urged the public and media to disregard reports alleging that Ghana has been removed from South Africa’s visa-free travel arrangement, describing them as false.
The Minister dismissed claims that Ghanaian citizens had lost the benefit of visa-free travel to South Africa, urging the public to disregard such reports and reaffirming that the existing reciprocal visa waiver agreement between Ghana and South Africa "remains fully in force."
Addressing a press conference at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) in Accra last Monday, Mr Ablakwa stated.
“I also wish to address reports that circulated on traditional and social media alleging that Ghana has been removed from South Africa's visa-free travel arrangement.”
“As the South African authorities have themselves indicated, no such decision has been taken on this matter, which is governed by an agreement applicable on a reciprocal basis,” he said.
“Any amendment to bilateral travel arrangements would be communicated formally through diplomatic channels and announced jointly by the two governments,” he stated.
He stressed that if there was any decision by the South African government to withdraw its visa-free arrangement with Ghana, the Ghanaian government would have no option but to reciprocate the same.
Misinformation
Mr Ablakwa said the false visa claims were part of a broader campaign of misinformation and disinformation that the government had had to contend with in the wake of recent developments in South Africa.
“These incidents serve as a reminder of the growing challenge posed by misinformation and disinformation campaigns during periods of crisis.
“As events unfolded, numerous false and misleading reports circulated across traditional and social media, creating unnecessary anxiety among Ghanaians, complicating consular operations and risking prejudice to ongoing diplomatic engagements,” he stated.
He encouraged media organisations and the public to rely on verified information, emphasising that “Inaccurate reporting during periods of crisis can undermine crisis management and cause unnecessary distress to affected families.”
The Minister cited, as an example, a false report by the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC), which claimed Ghana had recorded 2,300 Ebola infections and 930 deaths.
“Many Ghanaians were legitimately upset when the South African Broadcasting Corporation published false claims that Ghana had recorded an outbreak of Ebola Virus Disease,” he said.
He added that the Ministry of Health responded immediately to state categorically that Ghana had no recorded incident of Ebola.
The High Commissioner-designate of South Africa, he said, was also summoned to the Foreign Ministry last Tuesday on the same issue.
Following the government’s intervention, Mr Ablakwa said the SABC withdrew the report and acknowledged it had incorrectly attributed the Ebola statistics to Ghana, which the government welcomed.
He added that the government had a record of leadership in the Ebola response, recalling that during the 2013 outbreak in Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone, the then government provided a logistical base and personnel to support the response.
