Accra – Ghana will introduce visa-free entry for all African nationals starting May 25, 2026, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced. The policy coincides with Africa Day celebrations and is part of the country’s new e-Visa initiative.
Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, Ghana’s Foreign Minister, clarified that Africans will still need to apply for visas through the e-Visa platform, but no fees will be charged. “Not paying visa fees is not the same as automatic entry into Ghana. There shall be no automatic and unvetted entries,” he said, adding that all applicants will undergo the standard screening process.
The new e-Visa system, set to launch next month, is integrated with Ghana’s API-PNR system and other international crime databases to ensure proper vetting and maintain national security. Applicants with criminal or unsatisfactory records will be denied entry.
Ablakwa noted that while former President Nana Akufo-Addo announced a free visa policy for Africans in 2024, it was never implemented due to the lack of technological and security mechanisms. The current administration under President John Dramani Mahama is ready to launch the platform fully equipped with the necessary safeguards.
The policy aims to boost tourism, facilitate intra-African travel, and strengthen Ghana’s role in promoting Pan-Africanism, while maintaining robust security measures.
Ablakwa concluded his statement by wishing citizens a happy Easter and reaffirming the government’s commitment to technological innovation in immigration.
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