Presidential candidate for the Liberal Party of Ghana (LPG), Kofi Akpaloo, has called on European embassies to implement visa bans on individuals who cause disruptions during the upcoming December 7 elections.
He argued that such measures would serve as a deterrent to electoral misconduct, preventing offenders from leaving the country.
This request comes in response to the United States’ recent decision to impose visa restrictions on individuals who undermine Ghana’s democratic processes. The policy, which was announced on October 28, 2024, focuses on specific individuals rather than targeting the entire population or government, as outlined in Section 212(a)(3)(C) of the U.S. Immigration and Nationality Act.
Speaking to the press, Akpaloo revealed that he had personally approached U.S. Ambassador Virginia Evelyn Palmer, urging her to encourage European embassies to adopt similar policies. He believes such actions would enhance the credibility of Ghana’s electoral process and foster accountability among all parties involved.
“Looking at the way things are going, I think this election is going to be more peaceful. Recently, we all heard from the American Embassy that anybody who is going to cause chaos will be denied a Visa to travel outside the country.
“I spoke to the American ambassador as I was seated beside her to ask the European counterpart to also issue the same statement and she said yes, she is going to do that very soon, and she believes the British high commission is going to follow suit”.