President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has fulfilled his January 2024 pledge to implement visa-free travel to Ghana for citizens of all African countries.
According to a report by Asaase News, the visa-free travel policy was granted executive approval on Wednesday, 18 December 2024, and will take effect in early 2025, positioning Ghana as the fifth African nation to open its borders to all African passport holders.
President Akufo-Addo first made this commitment during the Africa Prosperity Dialogues 2024, held under the theme “Developing Prosperity in Africa: Produce, Add Value and Trade.”
Addressing over 2,000 business executives and political leaders, Akufo-Addo emphasised Ghana’s commitment to fostering the free movement of people, a key objective of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
Visa-free to enter Ghana
“Many of you had to acquire a visa to come to this event. The government of Ghana is committed to ensuring visa-free travel for all Africans entering our country, and the process has begun to implement this policy this year,” the President assured.
This initiative aligns with the African Union’s mission to establish the world’s largest single market by easing the movement of goods, services, and people across borders. Ghana, the host of the AfCFTA Secretariat, follows Rwanda, Seychelles, The Gambia, and Benin in instituting visa-free entry for African citizens.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, alongside the Ministry of the Interior, has commenced preparations to operationalise the policy, with the Ghana Immigration Service expected to announce the official start date, anticipated to be January 1, 2025.
The visa-free policy is seen as a major step towards addressing the travel frustrations expressed by African business leaders, including Nigerian industrialist Aliko Dangote, who previously highlighted the burdensome process of applying for multiple visas across the continent.
As Ghana implements this policy, the country honours the legacy of Dr Kwame Nkrumah, its first president and a champion of African unity, further cementing its role in Africa’s economic integration and the AfCFTA’s vision of a borderless continent.
visa-free countries for Ghana passport holders
A visa-free policy allows citizens of certain countries to enter another country without obtaining a visa for short stays. This policy is often based on bilateral agreements between governments and can vary in duration and conditions.
Bahamas, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belize, Benin, British Virgin Islands, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, Cook Islands, Côte d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast), Dominica, Eswatini, Fiji, Gambia, Grenada, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, Kiribati, Lesotho, Liberia, Malawi, Mali, Mauritius, Micronesia, Montserrat, Mozambique, Niger, Nigeria, Philippines, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Singapore, South Africa, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Tanzania, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Uganda, Vanuatu and Zimbabwe
Ghana nationals are eligible for a visa on arrival in the following 20 countries. In most cases, a visa can be obtained at the airport or border crossing point upon arrival. Fees, validity, and allowed duration of stay may vary.
These include Bolivia, Burundi, Cambodia, Comoros, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Jordan, Lebanon, Macao, Madagascar, Maldives, Mauritania, Nicaragua, Palau, Saint Lucia, Samoa, Seychelles, Timor-Leste, Tuvalu and Zambia.