The Government of Ghana has announced plans to introduce a visa-free policy for all African nationals visiting the country, a move aimed at deepening regional integration and strengthening continental ties.
The announcement was made on Thursday in a statement shared on X by Ghana’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Sam Okudzeto Ablakwa.
The e-visa system will be integrated with Ghana’s API-PNR system and international crime databases to ensure national security.
Moreover, this move positions Ghana as a leader in promoting continental unity and mobility, joining countries like Benin, The Gambia, Rwanda, and Seychelles that already offer visa-free entry to Africans.
The policy is expected to boost tourism, stimulate cross-border trade, and enhance investment flows.
“President John Mahama has today announced that the Government of Ghana has decided to introduce a free visa regime for all Africans who wish to visit Ghana,” the minister stated.
According to Ablakwa, the policy will come into force on May 25, which is observed annually as Africa Day.
“The new policy takes effect on May 25, a day which is commemorated as Africa Day,” he added.
He further revealed that President Mahama made the declaration during the inaugural State Visit of Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa to Ghana.
While stressing the importance of the initiative, Ablakwa added: “Ghana seeks to consolidate its credentials as the cradle of Pan-Africanism even as it expects a major boost in tourism and intra-African trade by this groundbreaking reform.”
He also disclosed that the visa-free arrangement will form part of a broader digital migration framework being rolled out by the current administration.
“The Free Visa for Africans would be a component of a new e-Visa policy the Mahama Administration is launching next month,” he noted.
The minister added that President Mahama reaffirmed the government’s commitment to expanding global travel access for Ghanaian citizens.
“President Mahama also assured that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs would continue with its intentional and determined effort at securing more Visa Waiver Agreements for Ghanaian passport holders,” he said.
Providing additional details, Ablakwa disclosed that since 2025, Ghana has negotiated 23 visa waiver agreements for its citizens.
