The U.S. has announced visa restrictions for individuals in Ghana who might cause disturbance before, during or after elections.
Most West African countries experience some levels of violence before, during and after general elections.
Some of the violence quickly diminish after elections. Some however linger on for some time leading to instability and even a civil war.
Most of the political class who have the potential to cause instability or undermine the democracy of their country sometimes have visas acquired already or decide to acquire visas before the elections and easily jet off to either America or Europe before any escalation.
In an attempt to prevent any such incidence, The American government has implemented visa restrictions targeting individuals who have the potential to cause disturbance by this preamble.
The restriction was disclosed in a press statement by the U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Monday, October 28, 2024
Ghana’s presidential and parliamentary elections are set for December 7, 2024. The restrictions will take effect ahead of the December polls. As the policy statement noted, this restriction will target specific individuals who threaten Ghana’s democratic principles.
The statement further stated that the policy is not aimed at targeting the Ghanaian people or the government but at individuals who may be responsible for electoral manipulation, violence, intimidation or any activities that undermined the transparency and credibility of the electoral process.
The Department of State said the policy was under Section 212(a)(3(C) of the U.S. Immigration and Nationality Act, which allowed visa restrictions on those believed to be involved in or complicit in undermining democratic processes.
In further clarification of the policy, the statement from the Secretary of State said the offence included “manipulation or rigging of the electoral process: the use of violence to intimidate, coerce or prevent people from exercising their rights to freedom of association and peaceful assembly: the use of measures designed to intimidate, coerce or prevent political party representatives, voters, or members of civil society or the media from voicing or disseminating their views: or engaging in any other activity designed to improperly influence the conduct or outcome of an election”
Family members or such individuals may also face restrictions if found culpable
