Ghana has officially opened its borders to all African passport holders, allowing them to visit the country without the need for a visa, outgoing President Nana Akufo-Addo has announced.
Although the policy was initially revealed last month, Akufo-Addo confirmed during his final state-of-the-nation address on Friday that it had been implemented at the start of the year.
Visa-free travel across Africa has been a long-standing goal for advocates of pan-African unity and economic integration. Ghana now joins Rwanda, Seychelles, The Gambia, and Benin as one of the few African nations offering visa-free access to travelers from across the continent.
"I am proud to have approved visa-free travel to Ghana for all African passport holders, effective from the beginning of this year," Akufo-Addo stated during his farewell speech to parliament. He described the move as a natural progression of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) agreement, which created the world’s largest free trade zone when it was launched four years ago.
In last year’s African Visa Openness Index, Ghana ranked fifth, having already waived visa requirements for nationals of 26 African countries. This latest policy is part of Ghana’s broader efforts to position itself as a prime destination for African travelers and the African diaspora.
In 2019, Akufo-Addo launched the "Year of Return" initiative, which aimed to attract people of African descent from around the world to visit, invest, and reconnect with their heritage in Ghana.
Reflecting on his time in office during his final address, Akufo-Addo acknowledged the economic difficulties faced by many Ghanaians during his tenure but expressed optimism, noting that "growth has returned to the pre-Covid trajectory." He concluded by saying he leaves behind "a thriving nation."
Having completed the maximum two terms in office, Akufo-Addo was ineligible to run in last month’s election. His party’s candidate, Vice-President Mahamudu Bawumia, was defeated by a significant margin by John Mahama, who will be sworn in as the new president on Tuesday. Photo by Erik Kristensen, Wikimedia commons.