Ghana Abolishes Visa Requirements for All African Passport Holders

Doha – Ghana has removed visa requirements for all African passport holders effective January 1, President Nana Akufo-Addo announced during his final State of the Nation Address.

The country will join Rwanda, Seychelles, Gambia and Benin as the fifth African nation to implement such a policy.

“I am proud to have approved visa-free travel to Ghana for all African passport holders, with effect from the beginning of this year,” stated Akufo-Addo before his departure from office on January 6.

“This is the logical next step to the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and the workings of the largest trading bloc in the world.”

Previously, Ghana provided visa-free access to citizens of 26 African nations and visas on arrival for travelers from 25 others, with only two African countries requiring visas before entry.

The new policy aligns with the African Union’s Agenda 2063, which envisions an integrated and interconnected continent by 2063.

The initiative builds upon Ghana’s earlier efforts to strengthen international connections, particularly following the successful “Year of Return” campaign in 2019, which commemorated 400 years of the transatlantic slave trade and contributed an estimated $1.9 billion to Ghana’s economy.

Ghana offers visitors rich cultural heritage sites, historic slave trade castles, pristine beaches along its Atlantic coast, and diverse wildlife in its national parks.

The country is also known for its vibrant markets, traditional festivals, and warm hospitality.

In his farewell address, Akufo-Addo also highlighted the country’s economic progress, citing improved external balances and increased Gross International Reserves of $8 billion, up from $6.2 billion in 2017.

He projected an annual growth rate of 6.3% for 2025, despite recent economic challenges that led to a $3 billion IMF loan.

This announcement follows Zambia’s recent decision on December 18, 2024 to waive visa requirements for 53 countries, including Morocco, starting January this year.

This brings the total number of African countries that Moroccan passport holders can enter with no visa needed to 18.

Morocco’s passport ranked 68th worldwide and first in the Maghreb region last July 2024 according to the Henley Passport Index, granting its holders visa-free access to 72 destinations, a number set to increase with these new destinations.