By Jeremiah Nutsugah
Ghana’s High Commissioner to Kenya, Damptey Bediako Asare, is urging Ghanaians to exercise caution when traveling to Kenya due to the escalating protests in the East African nation.
The protests, dubbed “7 Days of Rage,” began as peaceful demonstrations against a controversial finance bill that proposes tax hikes but turned violent on Tuesday.
Security forces clashed with protesters, resulting in vandalism of state properties and an attack on the Parliament building in Nairobi.
Kenya has been a popular destination for Ghanaian tourists and business owners exploring opportunities under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Initiative.
Recently, Ghana’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration announced that Ghanaian travelers would be issued an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) free of charge, potentially increasing travel between the two countries.
However, due to current security concerns, High Commissioner Asare advised Ghanaians traveling to Kenya to stay informed and avoid protest areas.
He also suggested that those planning to travel to Kenya in the coming days seek guidance from their travel agents or airlines.
Notably, some Ghanaian Members of Parliament were caught up in the ongoing demonstrations in Kenya.
Commenting on the general safety of Ghanaian nationals in Kenya, High Commissioner Damptey said “there’s no unfortunate incident involving any Ghanaian or any member of the Ghanaian community so far, and no casualties among the Ghanaian community.”