Ghana to Roll Out Visa-Free Entry for Africans From May 25Ghana has announced that it will introduce a visa-free entry policy for all African passport holders, beginning May 25, in a major move aimed at strengthening continental integration and boosting tourism and trade.The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, disclosed the development in a post on X, noting that President John Dramani Mahama made the announcement during the inaugural state visit of Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa to Ghana.According to him, the policy forms part of broader immigration reforms that also include the launch of a new e-visa platform designed to simplify travel procedures.Ablakwa said the initiative is expected to significantly enhance intra-African trade and tourism, while reinforcing Ghana’s position as a leading advocate of Pan-Africanism. He added that Ghana’s new visa-free arrangement places it among a small group of African countries with similar open-entry policies, alongside Benin, The Gambia, Rwanda, and Seychelles.He further explained that the visa-free system will operate alongside the e-visa platform being introduced by the Mahama administration, describing it as part of efforts to modernise Ghana’s immigration system.“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 said.Ablakwa also noted that Ghana is actively working to improve travel access for its own citizens, revealing that 23 visa waiver agreements have already been secured for Ghanaian passport holders since last year, with more currently being negotiated.President Mahama, while addressing his Zimbabwean counterpart, said the policy reflects Ghana’s long-standing commitment to Pan-African ideals and the vision of African unity championed by Kwame Nkrumah. He stressed that African nations must accelerate efforts toward deeper integration and freer movement across the continent.He also confirmed that from May 25, 2026—coinciding with Africa Day—Ghana will begin issuing free e-visas to African travellers as part of the new arrangement.The policy aligns with the African Union’s Agenda 2063, which promotes free movement of people, regional integration, and economic cooperation. It is expected to ease travel for businesspeople, students, artists, and tourists, while creating new opportunities for collaboration across Africa.
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