Ghana and Zambia have agreed to introduce visa-free travel for citizens of both countries, marking a significant step toward closer diplomatic and economic cooperation between the two African nations.
The agreement was reached during a three-day state visit to Zambia by Ghana’s President, John Dramani Mahama, who was received in Lusaka by his Zambian counterpart, President Hakainde Hichilema. Officials said the visit was aimed at strengthening bilateral relations and expanding collaboration in key sectors.
Under the new arrangement, citizens of Ghana and Zambia will be able to travel to each other’s countries without the need for entry visas. Officials described the deal as the first visa waiver agreement between a West African country and a Southern African nation.
Ghana’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, said the agreement was concluded after last-minute discussions between officials of both governments. He explained that negotiations initially stalled due to differences in passport categories between the two countries.
According to Ablakwa, Ghana issues three types of passports—diplomatic, service and ordinary—while Zambia recognises only diplomatic and ordinary passports. Zambian authorities had raised concerns that the systems were not aligned, but the issue was resolved following high-level consultations.
Ablakwa said the breakthrough came after Zambian officials sought approval from President Hichilema late on Tuesday night, leading to the final agreement.
The effective date for the implementation of visa-free travel has not yet been announced.
Ghana is among a small number of African countries that grant visa-free entry to citizens of all African nations. Since President Mahama returned to office in January 2025, Ghana has signed bilateral visa-free agreements with 15 African countries.
Other African nations that currently allow visa-free entry to all Africans include Rwanda, Seychelles, The Gambia and Benin.
The Ghana-Zambia agreement comes amid broader continental efforts to ease travel restrictions, boost intra-African trade and tourism, and advance regional integration, although progress has varied across countries and regions.
