Ghana will allow nationals of all African nations to enter the country without a visa beginning in early 2025. Ghana is become the sixth African country to open its borders to all holders of African passports after President Nana Akufo-Addo approved the decision in December.
The action comes after Akufo-Addo pledged to encourage regional integration and ease travel throughout the continent during the Africa Prosperity Dialogues last year.
In the past, Ghana allowed people of 26 African nations to enter the country without a visa and granted visas to visitors from 25 additional nations upon arrival. Ghana only requires a visa for access into two African countries.Akufo-Addo said, “This is about strengthening ties across Africa,” stressing that “a united continent is connected to Ghana’s future.”Ghana now offers visa-free travel, joining Rwanda, Seychelles, Gambia, and Benin.
Integration of the economy
The program is in line with the African Union’s goal of deeper economic integration through the Ghana-based African Continental Free Trade Area.
Visa limitations have long been recognized by experts as a major obstacle to travel, trade, and cross-cultural interaction.
Free travel on the continent is nevertheless hampered by stringent visa regulations in nations like Sudan, Equatorial Guinea, and Libya, according to the African Development Bank.
The bank referred to this as a “paradox of unity” because certain foreign countries had visa-free access to several African nations.
Diaspora connections
Through the “Beyond the Return” campaign, Ghana’s Tourism Authority is also encouraging regional and international involvement with the goal of fortifying relationships with the African diaspora.
until promote travel and business ties, the program offers a Non-Pre-Approval Visa policy that is available from December 1, 2024, until January 15, 2025.
Ghana’s position as a hub for African travel, trade, and tourism is anticipated to improve as a result of the new visa-free regime.
Only Rwanda, the Seychelles, Gambia, and Benin were higher in the Visa Openness Index than Ghana, which came in fifth place as of 2023.
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