GIS Begins Issuance of Visitors Permit To Foreigners in Ghana

The Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) will start the issuance of visas to foreigners in the Savannah region effective on May 4, 2021.

The GIS will also commence giving visitor’s permit to all foreigners who want to extend their time of stay in the country. According to officials of GIS, such persons are required to personally visit their regional office in Damongo to undertake the necessary processes for the extension.

The information was disclosed by the Ghana Immigration Service officials on PAD FM morning show monitored by soireenews.com The GIS team led by the Regional Immigration 2IC, ACI Michael K. Aborah, told that the public must take advantage of the opportunity to make their stay in Ghana legal explaining that some countries in West Africa who are ECOWAS member states and some other Africa countries are exempted from obtaining a visa before entering into Ghana. 

The Immigration Service also indicated that holders of diplomatic/Service passports of selected countries, persons in direct airside transit, as well as holders of official passports of some specialized agencies listed in the Visa Regime of Ghana, are exempted from obtaining a visa.

ECOWAS member States Nationals only need a valid endorsable document for inspection so that the GIS can regulate the 90-day stay permit. 

"The GIS accepts documents such as ECOWAS travelling certificate, passport and valid endorsable documents but the service does not accept ID cards," he added.

"The GIS also reminded institutions in the region that they should submit the Annual Expatriate Returns on the number of foreigners working in their institutions to help monitor their stay in Ghana."

The GIS officials further revealed that the status of any foreign worker in the region must be filled by 14th January of each year to update the records on the number of foreigners in the country working as required by Act 573 section 31. The service further appealed to all managers of hotels, guest houses in the region to submit the number of foreigners lodging in their facilities.

The GIS, therefore, commended the management and staff of Mole Motel and Zaina lodge, all in the Mole National Park for their timely submission of the weekly returns on foreign lodgers and urged the rest of guest houses and hotels to emulate such character. They encouraged foreigners who wish to nationalize to become Ghanaian citizens must put in their application as soon as possible.

By Abdul Sammed Gurundari, Savannah Region