Ghana and Morocco Visa Agreement

 

Ghana and Morocco have reached an agreement related to visas. Citizens of Ghana can now travel to the North African country without visa requirements. Online travel authorization will still be required. Applying through the embassy is no longer necessary. Ghana and Morocco already have direct flights. The reasons for the agreements related to tourism, trade, and enhancing diplomatic relations . Tourism is a major part of the economies of both nations. Travelers can mean more business for hotels, restaurants, and airlines. Trade among African nations needs to be increased. Europe and North America are becoming unreliable trade partners. Inter-African trade provides stable economies and growth. Diplomatic relations can be positive, if members of an agreement benefit equally. What could disturb diplomatic relations is Morocco's actions in the Western Sahara. Ghana decided to not press the issue related to recognition of the Western Sahara as an independent state. The Kingdom of Morocco must seriously consider granting independence to the Western Sahara. The shift seems to be more autonomy to the area. Morocco's diplomatic efforts are undermined by unreasonable policies directed at the Western Sahara. Ghana is making adjustments not to interfere with the new diplomatic relationship. Ghana is supporting Morocco's Western Sahara autonomy plan. Ghana should expect that relations with Algeria could deteriorate over time. Ghana's only path forward is to act as a neutral negotiator. Getting Algeria and Morocco to secure trade and visa agreements would bet helpful to Ghana.      

President Nana Akufo-Addo : What Africa Must Do to Develop

The president of Ghana Nana Aukufo-Addo explains African nations should not seek aid from European nations. Development should be a continent wide effort to build economies to reduce dependence. This requires investment in youth so they do not leave the country. Every African that leaves and lives in Europe only makes those countries more powerful. There has been a change in political mindset and the realization that nations such as France do not have African interests in mind. President Aukufo-Addo expressed these ideas during a press conference in early 2020. President Macron seemed to be shocked at these statements. What most EU countries fear is an age of African assertion, which would ultimately change geopolitical policy objectives. France wants more influence in its former area of colonization, but this will not happen without resistance. As President Nana Aukufo-Addo explained, Africa should not ask for aid, other nations should be getting aid from Africa. Ghana could be leading a way to a new pan-African political revival. The challenge is convincing other  African nations to be unified in on economic policy.