President Nana Akufo-Addo has announced that all African passport holders can now travel to Ghana without a visa. The policy, which took effectvi at the start of the year, was highlighted in his final state-of-the-nation address on Friday.
Visa-free travel within Africa has been a long-standing goal for advocates of pan-African unity and is considered a key step toward boosting economic integration across the continent. With this move, Ghana becomes the fifth African country to allow visa-free entry for travelers from other African nations, joining Rwanda, Seychelles, The Gambia, and Benin.
“I am proud to have approved visa-free travel to Ghana for all African passport holders, effective from the beginning of this year,” President Akufo-Addo told lawmakers in his farewell address. He described the policy as a natural extension of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), which came into effect four years ago, creating the world’s largest trading bloc.
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Last year, Ghana ranked fifth on the African Visa Openness Index, already offering visa-free entry to citizens from 26 African countries. This new policy cements the country’s commitment to fostering greater movement and collaboration within the continent.
In recent years, Ghana has actively promoted itself as a destination for both Africans and the African diaspora. The 2019 “Year of Return” initiative, launched by Akufo-Addo, encouraged individuals of African descent worldwide to reconnect with their heritage and invest in Ghana.
During his final address, the president reflected on his two terms in office. Despite economic challenges, he emphasized that “growth has returned to the pre-Covid trajectory” and expressed confidence in leaving behind a nation that is ”
thriving.”
