Why US impose visa restriction policy for Ghana

Di United States don announce new visa restriction policy for Ghana ahead of di presidential election wey go take place for December 2024.

According to di new release by US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, di visa restriction na to support di democracy for Ghana and around di world.

Dis new visa restriction policy go stop US visas for any individual wey wan threaten di democracy wey Ghana get.

Meanwhile, Ghanaians go gada for 7 December 2024 wia dem go vote for who go be dia next president as President Nana Akufo Addo presidential term go end for 7 January, 2025.

"Ghana don achieve three decades of democratic elections and di peaceful transfer of power between parties and na record to be proud of and model to hold tight."

"Dis policy go take effect in advance for Ghana presidential and parliamentary elections wey go take place December 7, 2024," di US tok.

Who go dey affected wit di visa restriction?

According to di US, e get pipo wey go dey affected by dis visa restriction for Ghana.

As di restriction go take place ahead of di presidential election, na dos wey get plan to do mago-mago or involve in any electoral fraud na im e go affect.

Di US tok say di visa restriction no dey directed at any particular Ghanaian or Ghana govment, but dose wey threaten di democracy wey di kontri don get - as dia election dey come.

Dis mean say anybodi or party wey rig di election, intimidate pipo, or involve in electoral violence go dey affected wit di restriction and dem no go fit get US visa.

Howeva, according to Section 212(a)(3)(C) of di Immigration and Nationality Act for di US, Department of State dey allowed to implement visa restrictions for individuals wey go cause wahala for Ghana.

Di act add say even family members of anyone wey dem catch go also dey affectd by di restriction- beifor, during and afta di Ghana 2024 elections.

Anybodi wey dem catch wey involve in electoral violence or fraud during di election no go dey eligible to apply for US visa, according to di new visa restriction policy.

Wetin to know about Ghana election 2024

Meanwhile, di Ghana Electoral Commission don confam 13 presidential candidates wey go compete for di December 7 presidential election.

Na about 38 candidates bin tok say dem bin wan run for di election but na only 13 now fit compete.

Dis na as President Nana Akufo Addo presidential term go end for 7 January, 2025.

Expectation for di election be say e go hot sake of say former President John Mahama wey be 65 years old dey try come back to power and di 60 year old Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia.

Oda candidates include Alan John Kwadwo Kyerematen, Nana Kwame Bediako, Nana Akosua Frimpomaa and Akua Donkor.

Di top candidates for di election include Dr Bawumia wey be di current vice president for di kontri and don dey dat role to outgoing president Nana Akufo-Addo for two elections.

Dr Mahama wey become vice president of Ghana for 2009 under John Evans Atta Mills, and later become president afta oga Mills die for July 24th, 2012 before e win di election dat same year, also dey di race.

As at May 2024, di electoral commission don do one limited registration exercise to capture pipo wey just turn 18 years.

For di exercise wey last for 21 days, di electoral commission target oda pipo wey no fit register for previous registration exercises.

Dem do di registration inside 1,053 centres, wit 268 district officers-- as di commission bin also target 785 centres for areas wey dey “hard to reach”.

Di registration bin target 623,000 pipo to register by May in addition to di 17 million voters wey dey bifor for Ghana.

How candidates and parties go appear for Ghana ballot

Political parties and independent candidates don alreadi pick position for di ballot paper for di 7 December Ghana elections.

Di governing new patriotic party candidate wey be di current vice president bin pick number one for di ballot.

Di electoral commission bin organize di balloting afta dey announce say 13 candidates don qualify for di elections.

Dis na how di parties go show on top of di ballot paper on election day.

1. Dr Mahamudu Bawumia (NPP) - 1

2. Daniel Augustus Lartey Jnr (GCPP) - 2

3. Akua Donkor (GFP) - 3

4. Christian Kwabena Andrews (GUM) - 4

5. Liberal party of Ghana (LPG) - 5

6. Mohammed Frimpong (NDP) - 6

7. Nana Akosua Frimpomaa (CPP) - 7

8. John Dramani Mahama (NDC) - 8

9. Hassan Ayariga (APC) - 9

10. Kofi Koranteng (independent) - 10

11. George Twum-Barima-Adu (independent) - 11

12. Nana Kwame Bediako (independent) - 12

13. Alan Kyerematen (independent) - 13