No Special Visas for Germany

The German Ambassador to Ghana, H. E Peter Linder has assured Ghanaians that there will be no special regulations to check visa applications as Ghana goes to the World Cup in German next year. He said from how far the Black Stars have come in their qualifications to the World Cup he is very optimistic that the nation will have it's taste of the World Cup in Germany. H. E Linder, who was in Kumasi to give the Black Stars his country's support to win their crucial game against the Cranes of Uganda indicated that even though there will be no special measures for the visa applications, the usual Shenghen visa applications requirements must be firmly adhered to by prospective visa applicants.

In an exclusive interview with AUTHENTIC KAPITAL SPORTS,the Ambassador said even for the Oplymic games in Athens, Greece and the just ended World Athletic Championships in Helsinki, Finland the normal Shenghen Visa application requirements were used to issue out visas for fans to go and support and cheer their countries and the same will be done for the World Cup in Germany.

The same procedure, according to him was used in issuing out visas for the over one million Catholic youth to go to Koln and called on prspective travellers to feel at ease to put in their applications for visas once Ghana qualifies. Asked as to what his comment is on the notion that Germans are racial and mean, H. E Peter Linder,said that is only a fallacy adding that Germans indeed love and appreciate anybody from around the world and they have become more professional in their relations with the rest of the world in the face of the impending World Cup.He said Germany is very proud to be playing host to the best soccer nations around the world next year and everything possible is being done by the German government to ensure that it's guests are well catered for.

He said he chose to come to Kumasi to support the Black Stars because of the cordial relations between the two countries coupled with the determination of the team which he described as one of the best on the continent. He only hoped that Ghana and Germany are not drawn together in the some group because then he will have one heart supporting Germany and the other for Ghana.

The Ambassador said even though he will not be in a position to totally speak for the organising commitees planning the World Cup he is optimistic that all pragmatic security measures will be put in place to ensure incident-free and a very eventfull Worl Cup in Germany.

According to him he gave Ghana his unflinching support in his capacity as the representative of the country hosting the tournament and he is sure his German colleague, the German Ambassador in Kampala,Uganda was rooting strongly for the Cranes of Uganda but Ghana was argueably the better of the two teams.H.E Peter Linder commended the Minister for Education and Sports Hon. Yaw Osafo Marfo and officials of the Ghana Football Association for the worm reception offered him in Kumasi.

He had a special commendation for the Black Stars for not disappointing him and the over 50,000 supporters who thronged the Baba Yara Sports Stadium to watch and support them.