Ghana has granted travel access to the citizens of all African countries beginning from January 2025. President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has kept his promise and decided to allow citizens of all African countries to enter Ghana without visa.
Reportedly, to grant the visa-free travel access pledge was taken in January 2024 at the Africa Prosperity Dialogues (APD 2024). The pledge was made with an aim to improve the free flow of people, products and services throughout the continent.
The visa-free policy is scheduled to go into effect prior to Akufo-Addo’s term ending on January 06, 2025, as he received the executive approval on Wednesday, Dec 18, 2024.
African Union aims to make economic unification through the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), which is one step closer towards reality. By introducing this program, Ghana will become the only African nation to grant the visa-free entrance to all the holders of African passports along with Rwanda, Seychelles, Gambia and Benin.
Ghana’s action anticipates to improve the cooperation between African governments and companies. Its desire is to support the initiatives to establish the largest single market in the world that will include 55 countries.
In order to fulfil his commitment, President Akufo-Addo reiterated Ghana’s commitment to the visa-free program in his keynote speech for APD 2024. It follows the theme “Developing Prosperity in Africa: Produce, Add Value and Trade.”
Akufo-Addo mentioned a particular agreement that lowered visa costs for attendees and said that many people have to acquire a visa to attend this event. He also gave participants his word that the Ghanaian government is committed to ensure visa-free travel for all Africans. The process was started to implement the policy this year only.
Ministry of the Interior and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration has received the policy and are getting ready to implement it. The official commencement date is projected to begun on Wednesday, Jan 01, 2025 which will be announced by the Ghana Immigration Service.
This major action is anticipated to strengthen standing Ghana as a pioneer in African unification and integration by promoting trade, tourism and cultural interchange throughout the continent. The significance of the undertaking is highlighted by criticism of restrictive immigration laws in other African countries.
The richest man in Africa, the business magnet – Aliko Dangote emphasized the difficulties of negotiating immigration regulations throughout the continent. He said that during a business gathering in Rwanda, he applied for 35 different visas as an investor.
This comment by businessman Dangote highlighted the difficulties that were faced by the African investors and businesspeople, who frequently found it easy to travel to the US or Europe than to their neighbouring African nations.
Notably, the AfCFTA Secretariat is based in Ghana which has supported the idea of an Africa without borders for long which was initially put forth by the founder of the organisation – Dr. Kwame Nkrumah.
This initiative by Ghana is a progressive example as the location of the African Union’s headquarters has come under fire for its stringent visa requirements.