Ghana introduces visa-free travel for all African passport holders

Ghana’s outgoing President Nana Akufo-Addo has unveiled a groundbreaking policy granting visa-free entry to all African passport holders, effective January 1, 2025. This landmark initiative, announced during his final state of the nation address on Friday, aligns with efforts to foster continental economic integration and solidify Ghana’s role in pan-African unity.

“I am proud to have approved visa-free travel to Ghana for all African passport holders,” Akufo-Addo declared before parliament. He emphasized that this move complements the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), headquartered in Accra, and supports the African Union’s Agenda 2063 vision for an integrated and connected Africa.

By implementing this policy, Ghana joins nations like Rwanda, Seychelles, Gambia, and Benin, which already offer visa-free access to African travelers. Previously, Ghana allowed visa-free or visa-on-arrival entry for citizens of 51 African countries, excluding Eritrea and Morocco.

This initiative builds on Ghana’s recent international outreach, including the successful 2019 “Year of Return,” which celebrated the African diaspora and commemorated 400 years since the transatlantic slave trade. The campaign attracted thousands of visitors, including global celebrities, and elevated Ghana’s profile as a cultural and tourism hub.

In his farewell address, Akufo-Addo also highlighted his administration’s economic achievements, including increasing Ghana’s gross international reserves to $8 billion from $6.2 billion in 2017 and projecting a GDP growth rate of 6.3% for 2025.

Akufo-Addo, stepping down after two terms, leaves Ghana amidst an IMF-backed economic recovery program, passing leadership to John Mahama, who won the December elections.