The United States Ambassador to Ghana, Virginia Palmer, has defended a new visa restriction policy targeting individuals involved in undermining Ghana’s democratic processes ahead of the December 7 elections.
The U.S. announced the policy, which restricts U.S. visas for individuals found responsible for actions that threaten democracy in Ghana.
The policy was issued by the U.S. Department of State under Section 212(a)(3)(C) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, empowering the Department to impose visa restrictions on those deemed responsible for or complicit in undermining Ghana’s democratic principles.
The policy specifically targets individuals who engage in activities such as electoral manipulation, violence aimed at intimidating voters or political party members, and actions that prevent civil society or the media from expressing their views freely.
During a U.S. elections watch event in Accra, Ambassador Palmer clarified that this policy applies to individuals, not the Ghanaian government or any particular political party.
She highlighted that Ghana is the fourth country in Africa to be included in this visa restriction, and it has also been implemented in regions like Europe and Latin America.
Ambassador Palmer emphasized that the policy serves as a deterrent to negative actions, such as hate speech and electoral interference. She expressed hope that the tool would not need to be used but stated that it would be available if necessary to uphold democratic integrity in Ghana.
She also reiterated the call for a peace pact ahead of the elections, stressing that the tool is not targeted at any specific party or government but is a measure to protect Ghana’s democracy.
