President John Dramani Mahama has announced that Ghana will introduce a free visa regime for all African nationals effective May 25, 2026, coinciding with Africa Day, in a move that positions the country among a small group of African nations offering open-door entry to fellow Africans.
The announcement was made at the end of a bilateral meeting with visiting Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa at the Peduase Lodge in the Eastern Region on Thursday, April 2. President Mahama described the move as a step to strengthen Ghana’s position as a centre of Pan-Africanism while boosting tourism and intra-African trade.
“I’m also pleased to announce that effective 25th May 2026, when we commemorate Africa Day, Ghana will commence a free visa regime for all Africans. Africans travelling to Ghana will receive their e-visas online free of charge,” he said.
Foreign Affairs Minister Sam Okudzeto Ablakwa confirmed the announcement via X, stating that the free visa arrangement would form part of a broader electronic visa (e-visa) policy the Mahama administration is rolling out next month.
President Mahama assured the public that adequate systems have been put in place to screen prospective visitors and ensure that national security is not compromised. He added that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs would continue pursuing additional visa waiver agreements for Ghanaian passport holders.
The announcement builds on Ghana’s recent steps toward visa liberalisation. In January 2025, the country introduced visa-free travel for holders of African passports under a policy initiated by former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, aligning with the African Union’s Agenda 2063 and the objectives of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). That earlier announcement did not take effect before Akufo-Addo’s tenure ended.
With the new policy now given a firm implementation date, Ghana joins Benin, The Gambia, Rwanda, and Seychelles as the fifth African country to allow visa-free entry to all African nationals.
President Mahama said since assuming office, his administration has signed 23 visa waiver agreements, adding that these arrangements would enhance the value of the Ghanaian passport and ease travel for Ghanaian citizens abroad.
Ghana and Zimbabwe also signed 10 memoranda of understanding during the visit, aimed at strengthening cooperation across key sectors. The two countries already maintain a bilateral visa-free arrangement, allowing citizens to travel between both nations without a visa.
