President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has approved visa-free entry to Ghana for all African nationals, fulfilling a key promise made earlier this year.
The policy is expected to take effect before the end of the president’s term on January 6th, 2025.
This policy reportedly places Ghana among the few African nations offering visa-free access to all African passport holders, joining Rwanda, Seychelles, The Gambia, and Benin.
The move is a step toward improving the movement of people, goods, and services across the continent, and it is expected to foster greater economic integration under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
In his keynote speech at the Africa Prosperity Dialogues (APD) 2024, Akufo-Addo stressed the importance of the new policy in promoting economic growth.
He emphasized that the visa-free initiative would significantly contribute to the goals of the AfCFTA by ensuring easier movement across African borders.
This policy aims to reduce barriers for African citizens traveling to Ghana and increase opportunities for trade and collaboration within the continents.
Delivering his address under the theme “Developing Prosperity in Africa: Produce, Add Value, and Trade,” Akufo-Addo acknowledged the challenges many African citizens face when traveling within the continent.
He reaffirmed Ghana’s commitment to visa-free travel for all African nationals, noting that steps had already been taken to implement the policy this year.
The introduction of visa-free travel is seen as an important step toward achieving the goals of the AfCFTA, which aims to create a single continental market for goods and services.
By removing visa requirements, Ghana is fostering deeper economic integration and making it easier for people to move freely across the continent.
This aligns with the broader objectives of AfCFTA to stimulate intra-African trade and improve economic cooperation among African nations.
The new visa-free entry policy will be in effect before the end of President Akufo-Addo’s term on January 6th, 2025.
The president’s approval of the initiative marks the beginning of its implementation, with the Ghanaian government taking the necessary steps to roll out the policy.
The move is expected to enhance Ghana’s role in the region and strengthen its ties with neighboring African countries.
