President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has granted approval for visa-free entry to Ghana for all African nationals, fulfilling a key promise made earlier this year.

The policy is expected to take effect before the end of the president’s term on January 6th, 2025.

Citi Newsroom (CNR) reports that this places Ghana among the few African nations offering visa-free access to all African passport holders, joining Rwanda, Seychelles, The Gambia, and Benin.

The move is a step toward improving the movement of people, goods, and services across the continent, and it is expected to foster greater economic integration under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

According to Citi New Room (CNR), in his keynote speech at the Africa Prosperity Dialogues (APD) 2024, Akufo-Addo stressed the importance of the new policy in promoting economic growth. He emphasized that the visa-free initiative would significantly contribute to the goals of the AfCFTA by ensuring easier movement across African borders.

This policy aims to reduce barriers for African citizens traveling to Ghana and increase opportunities for trade and collaboration within the continent.

While delivering his address under the theme “Developing Prosperity in Africa: Produce, Add Value, and Trade,” Akufo-Addo acknowledged the challenges many African citizens face when traveling within the continent. “Many of you had to acquire a visa to attend this event,” he said, highlighting the barriers that still exist.

He reaffirmed Ghana’s commitment to visa-free travel for all African nationals, noting that steps had already been taken to implement the policy this year.

The introduction of visa-free travel is seen as an important step toward achieving the goals of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), which aims to create a single continental market for goods and services.

By removing visa requirements, Ghana is fostering deeper economic integration and making it easier for people to move freely across the continent. This aligns with the broader objectives of AfCFTA to stimulate intra-African trade and improve economic cooperation among African nations.

The new visa-free entry policy will be in effect before the end of President Akufo-Addo’s term on January 6th, 2025. The president’s approval of the initiative marks the beginning of its implementation, with the Ghanaian government taking the necessary steps to roll out the policy.

The move is expected to enhance Ghana’s role in the region and strengthen its ties with neighboring African countries.

Senator Manu Haruna has waded in to quickly checkmate the spread of Cholera by immediately providing medical equipment to Gassol Primary Health Centre in Gassol Local Government of Taraba Central.

Senator Manu immediately got the wind of the cholera outbreak which had affected several areas in Gassol Local Government Area, ordered for the medical equipment.

The medical equipment was presented on Thursday in Gassol town through the Chairman of Gassol Local Government Council, Hon. Abubakar Baffa Nanu, alongside Alhaji Raubilu Umar, representing the Senator.

This quick response further demonstrates Senator Manu’s commitment to addressing health challenges in his senatorial district and ensuring that communities have the resources needed to combat public health crises.

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The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Barrister Nyesom Wike, says he is in charge of land in Abuja and is only dealing with land grabbers.

Wike, who spoke on Thursday at a Thanksgiving service organised by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ahoada East and West local government areas of Rivers State, thanked President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for giving him the opportunity to serve in his government.

Wike said if Tinubu did not give him the opportunity to serve, he wouldn’t have known the way Nigeria is.

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He denied the accusations made against him that he is a land grabber, saying that as the FCT Minister, he is in charge of lands in Abuja and cannot in anyway grab land.

He said, “Those who are grabbing land are the people I am dealing with and that is why we must thank Mr President, if he didn’t give us this opportunity we would not have known the way this country is.

“Do not bother, people say controversial if being controversial is because you want the right thing to be done, I prefer it so.

“People say land grabbing, do you grab what you are in charge? I am in charge of land in Abuja, how will I go and grab what I am in charge?

“Here in Rivers, we thought it was difficult but when you go to a capital territory of a country you know that you are dealing with entire Nigerians.

“People think that because yesterday nobody was able to implement rules, it means that today, nobody would be able to do it. It means that tomorrow nobody will be able to do it. No, it is not like that. The mere fact that no government was able to do it yesterday doesn’t mean that this Renewed Hope Agenda government can not do it today.

“That is why I can assure you that no matter the cry you cry, no matter the propaganda you carry, I will do what is right. If you like give me any name you want to give me. You heard what the president said, Nigerians do not like to comply.

“Simple thing, comply, because they think some of us, you can threaten us, you can blackmail us, it is fake. It won’t work. I do not even know whether you are blackmailing me, I am not interested. My interest is that I am doing what is right and even if heaven comes, I will still do it.”

Earlier in his welcome address the former Deputy Speaker of House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Chibudom Nwuche, commended President Tinubu for appointing Wike as the minister of the FCT.

He said Wike has showed to Nigerians that what he did in Rivers State was not a fluke, but it’s his nature to transform states and cities.

He said that Wike is working and transforming Abuja.