Ghana Becomes 5th African Country To Implement Visa-Free Travel For Africans
Previously, Ghana provided visa-free access to citizens of 26 African nations, while travelers from 25 other African countries could obtain a visa upon arrival.
According to the Visa Openness Ranking, Ghana secured the 5th position in Africa, coming behind Rwanda, Seychelles, The Gambia, and Benin who are the only African countries offering visa-free entry to all African passport holders.
Only two African nations required a visa prior to visiting Ghana, reflecting the country’s efforts to promote regional integration and facilitate movement across the continent.
According to Citi Newsroom (CNR), President Nana Akufo-Addo granted executive approval for a comprehensive visa-free travel policy on Wednesday, December 18, 2024.
President Akufo-Addo’s tenure ends on January 7, 2025, when the newly elected president, John Mahama, will assume power in Ghana.
This move fulfills his pledge at the Africa Prosperity Dialogues (APD 2024) in January 2024 to introduce visa-free entry for citizens of all African nations.
The policy, set to take effect in early 2025, will make Ghana the fifth African country to open its borders to all holders of African passports thus ensuring regional integration.
This initiative follows the administration’s annual year-end tradition of offering visas on arrival for all travelers.
Ghana’s Tourism Authority in November, announced that from December 1, 2024, to January 15, 2025, visitors can benefit from a Non-Pre-Approval Visa policy as part of the transformative 10-year “Beyond the Return” initiative.
The program is a 10-year initiative launched by the Ghanaian government to boost tourism, encourage the return of Africans and Ghanaians living abroad, and strengthen economic ties with the diaspora.
