The Dean of the Ghana Armed Forces Command and Staff College, Prof. Vladimir Antwi-Danso has raised concerns over a new visa restriction issued by the United States’ Department of states.
The new policy spells some punitive measures for non-Ghanaians found to be destractors of Ghana’s democracy. This is set to take effect ahead of the country’s general election on December 7, 2024.
“The Department of State is announcing a new visa restriction policy today that will restrict U.S. visas for any individual responsible for undermining democracy in Ghana. This policy will take effect in advance of Ghana’s presidential and parliamentary elections scheduled to take place December 7, 2024,” a statement issued by the outift said.
But, Professor Atwi-Danso believes the US may be overstepping boundaries, in that the western country is not in a position to determine the nature of Ghana’s democracy. He stressed that Ghana is capable of establishing its own democracy devoid of any external influence, all the while driving home the message that the West African nation needs to thwart any external influence.
“The point is that how long will the US be the ones to determine how democracy should be formulated? I am very much worried over that.”
“What we need is to be able to draw our own contours of democracy,” he said on during an interview with JoyFM
Moreover, “positive as though as this may sound, I think we need to be very careful about what we accept and don’t. The US is trying to be the Israel Dam where democracies are concerned but no two democracies are the same,” he added.
He is also concerned about the potential ramifications in relation to outcomes of the election ahead, as he believes “there is a possibility that when election results don’t favor them, they will use other parameters to measure the government and deny it the right to rule – just as they did in Venezuela,” stressing that the US’ interference in the case of Venezuela is responsible for the South American country’s state of chaos.
Read below the US’ statement on the new visa policy
“This visa restriction policy is pursuant to Section 212(a)(3)(C) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, and allows the Department of State to implement visa restrictions for individuals believed to be responsible for, or complicit in, undermining democracy in Ghana, including through the manipulation or rigging of the electoral process; the use of violence to intimidate, coerce or prevent people from exercising their rights to freedoms of association and peaceful assembly; the use of measures designed to intimidate, coerce or prevent political party representatives, voters, or members of civil society or the media from voicing or disseminating their views; or engaging in any other activity designed to improperly influence the conduct or outcome of an election. Certain family members of such persons may also be subject to these restrictions. 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.“
Source: Dehotpress
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