President of Ghana, John Dramani Mahama, has departed Accra for Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, to participate in the 39th Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the African Union (AU).
During the summit, President Mahama is expected to lead several high-level engagements on Reparations, Gender, and Financial Inclusion. He will also co-host a number of side events and host a special breakfast meeting on Saturday as part of the Accra Reset initiative, dubbed “Addis Reckoning.”
The President is further scheduled to hold bilateral talks with fellow African leaders and heads of multilateral institutions, and participate in the Italy–Africa Forum.
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Also in Ethiopia is the First Lady, Lordina Dramani Mahama, who will attend the summit of the Organisation of African First Ladies for Development (OAFLAD).
President Mahama and the First Lady are expected to return to Accra on Monday, February 16.
Ablakwa Announces Visa-Free Access for Ghanaians
Meanwhile, the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, who is also attending the AU summit, has announced that holders of Ghanaian passports can now travel to 50 countries without a visa.
Speaking to journalists on the sidelines of the summit on February 12, Mr. Ablakwa disclosed that the number is expected to rise in the coming months as Ghana signs more visa waiver agreements.
“Expect more visa waiver agreements this year. Even within March, you’ll be hearing some good news. April, some good news. Maybe, there’ll be some good news,” he stated.
He, however, did not disclose the list of countries involved.
According to the Minister, the government’s goal is to make the Ghanaian passport one of the most valuable travel documents in Africa and beyond.
“We want the Ghanaian passport to be the most valued passport in Africa and one of the most valued anywhere in the world, and we are on course,” he said.
Mr. Ablakwa noted that visa-free travel will expand business opportunities, boost tourism, and improve Ghana’s global relevance.
With easier mobility, Ghanaian entrepreneurs will be able to explore new markets, secure partnerships, and negotiate deals without bureaucratic delays. The hospitality, aviation, and trade sectors are also expected to benefit from increased cross-border movement.
He revealed that Zambia is the latest country to sign a visa waiver agreement with Ghana, joining a growing list of partner nations.
The Foreign Affairs Minister also highlighted improvements in passport security, stressing that the new Ghanaian passport is now fully chip-embedded and equipped with advanced features.
“It is probably one of the most secure passports in the world. It is no longer just biometric. It is chip-embedded, and we are ahead of many countries,” he said.
He added that the Ministry has invested in artificial intelligence and modern technologies to prevent fraud and protect the integrity of the passport system.
“As more countries sign visa waiver agreements with us, some people will try to take advantage. We are improving security to ensure our passports do not fall into the wrong hands,” Mr. Ablakwa assured.
He further announced improved passport delivery systems across all 16 regions, alongside reduced fees and courier services.
CNR