US announces visa restriction for individuals who ‘undermine’ Ghana elections

The United States is introducing visa restrictions for individuals who may undermine democracy in Ghana’s upcoming presidential and parliamentary elections.

The US Department of State announced the restriction policy in a statement on Monday ahead of the December 7 polls.

The restrictions will not affect the Ghanaians but target specific individuals involved in undermining democracy.

“Ghana has achieved three decades of democratic elections and the peaceful transfer of power between parties – a record to be proud of and a model to cherish,” the statement reads.

The US government says it aims to support the aspirations of all Ghanaians for a “peaceful, transparent, and credible electoral process that reflects the will of the people.”

The US listed acts that undermine democracy to include “manipulation or rigging of the electoral process,” using violence to intimidate voters, and preventing political representatives or civil society from expressing their views.

“Persons who undermine democracy in Ghana — including in the lead-up to, during, and following Ghana’s 2024 elections may be found to be ineligible for visas under this policy,” the statement added.

The statement noted that “certain family members of such persons may also be subject to these restrictions.”

Visa restrictions for certain nationals of countries preparing for elections are not uncommon for the US.

Last year, Antony Blinken, US secretary of state, said steps had been taken to impose visa restrictions on individuals in Nigeria who disrupted the general elections.

Blinken said the affected persons had been involved in voter threats, results manipulation, physical violence, and other acts that undermined democracy.

While such bans are made almost every election cycle, the affected individuals are seldom named.