Measures at entry points to become less cumbersome

Accra, July 15, GNA- The Minister of Interior, Mr Hackman Owusu-Agyemang on Tuesday said in Parliament that the Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) is introducing measures in its operations that would make visits of all travellers to Ghana less cumbersome.

Mr Owusu-Agyemang said since January, this year, the GIS has discontinued the endorsement of Ghanaian passport with stamps on arrival at the entry points and that Ghanaians only need to complete the disembarkation forms.

The Minister was answering questions from the NPP-MP for Asutifi South, Mrs Cecilia Gyan Amoah as to why Ghanaian nationals returning home from abroad are made to fill in immigration forms whereas this is not required in other countries.

Mr Owusu-Agyemang said the entry into Ghana by all persons is governed by the Immigration Act, 2000 (Act 573), Section 2 (1), which states, "a person entering Ghana shall produce his travel document and complete the prescribed forms."

"This helps in knowing the number of persons including Ghanaians entering the country," adding that the completion of prescribed forms by Ghanaians is, therefore, within the law.

Mr Owusu-Agyemang noted that the situation relating to visitors into the country is under constant review and whenever it is found desirable, it would be modified by taking into account technologies which would make it possible to determine the number of Ghanaian travellers without filling the disembarkation forms.