The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration has disclosed that over 450 Ghanaians who were stranded in Dubai in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in August this year have been repatriated.
In a statement dated October 31st, the ministry noted that the stranded individuals were people who were misled by unscrupulous agents who promised non-existent jobs in Dubai and other parts of the United Arab Emirates.
Giving a detailed account of how these individuals were repatriated, the ministry stated that 80 victims were flown back to Ghana with the support of the Mohammed Bin Rashid Al-Maktoum Humanitarian and Charity establishment in Dubai and other benevolent individuals.
Another 20 Ghanaians were evacuated with the support of an individual and friend of the Government of Ghana, Mr Abdul Rarsak-Daheer in September 2022, on board Egypt Air.
Meanwhile, the ministry insists that the ban on direct-to-home recruitment of Ghanaian labour migrants still holds but does not affect the lawful recruitment of skilled workers (non-domestic house helps) to the Gulf States.
Ghanaians contemplating embarking on journeys via illegal routes to various parts of the world have been entreated to desist from doing so, since this provides an unfortunate outcome.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has also debunked statements that Ghanaians have been barred from travelling to the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
This comes as a response to a DW Africa Facebook post which alleged that the UAE has announced a visa ban on Ghana and other 20 African countries seeking to visit the country.
According to the publication, the countries affected include Ghana, Sierra Leone, Sudan, Cameroon, Nigeria, Liberia, Burundi, Republic of Guinea, Gambia, Togo, Democratic Republic of Congo, Senegal, Benin, Ivory Coast, Congo, Rwanda, Burkina Faso, Guinea-Bissau, Comoros, and Uganda.
The ban was said to have taken effect on October 24th, 2022.
Explaining the rationale behind the UAE visa ban, DW stated that some individuals who arrive on visit visas end up overstaying in the country illegally.
However, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs indicated that it has received no such directive from the authorities in the UAE.
As such, the ministry has urged the public to disregard the publication.
Nonetheless, the Foreign Ministry disclosed that the UAE has instead reviewed the requirements for its tourist and visit visas.
The revision includes; a 30-day single-entry visa, which has been put on hold, and a 60-day multiple visa entry regime, which is currently in force. Also, travellers to the UAE are to secure a round-trip ticket and a hotel booking prior to the visa application.
With the new visa requirement, the ministry advised travelling Ghanaians to observe the new visa revision put in place by the UAE.
Source: The Independent Ghana