Ghana and Morocco have reached an agreement to initiate moves toward waiving visa requirements for all categories of travellers between the two countries, a move aimed at fostering closer diplomatic and economic ties.

Announcing the development, Ghana’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, stated that the agreement would be presented to both nations’ parliaments for ratification in the coming weeks.

“We have both additionally pledged to deepen collaboration in agribusiness, tourism, and security,” he said after holding discussions with the Moroccan Ambassador to Ghana, Her Excellency Imane Ouaadil.

Mr Ablakwa described the meeting as “fruitful and assuring” and used the opportunity to address concerns over recent social media reports alleging violence against Africans in Morocco.

According to him, the Moroccan Ambassador firmly refuted claims that some 700 Africans had been killed in Morocco, clarifying that the widely circulated video in question was an old recording of a tragic border incident that occurred on 24th June 2022.

“Apparently, the footage in issue is an old 24th June 2022 border incident which led to the tragic, unfortunate, and condemnable loss of 23 lives. That deplorable incident has since been investigated by Moroccan and Spanish authorities,” Mr Ablakwa stated.

He further assured that “it is worth noting that no Ghanaian casualty was recorded.”

Beyond diplomatic and security matters, the minister revealed that Morocco had doubled its annual scholarships for Ghanaian students, increasing the number from 90 to 180, starting this year.

Prior to his engagement with the Moroccan Ambassador, Mr Ablakwa also met with the Russian Ambassador to Ghana, His Excellency Sergei Berdnikov, where they discussed various areas of bilateral cooperation.

“Ghana will continue to pursue our longstanding foreign policy of positive neutrality and serve as a credible voice for global peace,” the Minister reiterated.