The chairman of ECOWAS, President Nana Addo Dnquah Akuffo has iterated his opposition to the current travel bans imposed on south Africa and some other African countries by some Western countries, describing the restrictions as ” instruments of immigration control”.
The Ghanaian president made the comments in a joint press conference organized on Saturday, 4th December 2021, during a 2 day visit to Ghana by the south African leader, at country’s seat of government, the Jubilee House.
According to President Akuffo Addo, Africa repeated its ‘’ firm opposition to all attempts to single out African countries for the imposition of travel bans’’, adding that it is an ‘’instruments of immigration control’’.
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The recent decision by the US, UK and EU to bar travelers from South Africa, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Namibia, Lesotho, Eswatini, Egypt, Mozambique, Malawi and Nigeria, following the discovery of the Omicron variant of COVID-19 has sparked public uproar in the affected African countries.
President Akufo-Addo told the media that he exchanged ‘’views and information’’ with his south African counterpart on the common fight against COVID-19, assuring that Ghana will continue support to South Africa and also extend same to” all other African countries, in the common search for an end to the pandemic”.
He explained that the South African President’s visit is to re-affirm the foreign relationship and deepen co-operation among the two countries.
The Ghanaian leader used the occasion to thank President Ramaphosa and South Africa for the support his country gave Ghana during its bid to house the Secretariat of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), and for a non-permanent seat at the United Nations Security Council.
The Forbes African of the year assured that, Ghana will be the voice of the continent at the security council, adding ” we will consult broadly to define Africa’s interests”.
