Free Visas For Africans: Ablakwa Shares Key Facts About New Policy
- African nationals can now apply for visas without fees, but screening will remain mandatory
- Minister for Foreign Affairs Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa has shared more details about the new announcement
- Ghana’s consular officers will be checking the background of applicants as part of the application process
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In light of the new free visa policy for African nationals, Minister for Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has shared more details about the new announcement.
Among others, Ablakwa clarified that the policy does not guarantee automatic entry into the country.
In a Facebook post, the minister said Africans will only no longer be required to pay visa fees.
They still undergo a mandatory visa application and screening process.
The key facts Ablakwa shared are:
- Africans will not pay visa fees;
- Not paying visa fees does not mean you will not go through visa screening. Africans will still have to go through a visa application process like everyone else just that theirs would be gratis;
- Government is also introducing an e-Visa policy next month;
- The Free Visa for Africans is a component of the e-Visa initiative;
- All applicants including Africans will have to apply for visas through the e-Visa platform;
- The novel e-Visa system shall be linked to Ghana’s newly established API-PNR system and other international crime database which allows our consular officers to check background of applicants and provide appropriate vetting to ensure Ghana’s security is not compromised;
- People with criminal or deemed unsatisfactory records will not be admitted into Ghana;
List of visa-free countries for Ghana
Bearers of Ghanaian passports can travel visa-free to over 40 nations and territories.
In June 2025, Ablakwa announced that Ghanaians could travel to Morocco without applying for a traditional visa.
This development was part of ongoing efforts to strengthen ties between African countries.
Source: Facebook
Other countries Ghanaians can travel to without visas include:
- Bahamas – 90 days
- Bangladesh – 90 days
- Barbados – 180 days
- Benin – 90 days
- Cote d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast) – 90 days
- Dominica – 180 days
- Eswatini – 30 days
- Fiji – 120 days
- Gambia – 90 days
- Grenada – 90 days
- Guyana – 90 days
- Haiti – 90 days
- Kiribati – 90 days
- Malawi – 90 days
- Mauritius – 90 days
- Micronesia – 30 days
- Mozambique – 30 days
- Philippines – 30 days
- Rwanda – 90 days
- Saint Kitts and Nevis – 90 days
- Senegal – 90 days
- Singapore – 30 days
- South Africa – 90 days
- St. Vincent and the Grenadines – 90 days
- Tanzania – 90 days
- Uganda – 90 days
- Vanuatu – 120 days
- Zimbabwe – 90 days
- Belize
- Togo
- Sierra Leone
- Niger
- Nigeria
- Mali
- Liberia
- Jamaica
- Guinea
- Guinea-Bissau
- Burkina Faso
- Cape Verde
- Trinidad and Tobago
eVisa countries for Ghanaian citizens
There are also eVisa arrangements which allow Ghanaians to enter over 30 countries by applying for and getting their visa online. This removes the need for physical visits to embassies.
These include:
- Albania
- Antigua and Barbuda
- Australia
- Bahrain
- Bhutan
- Botswana
- Cameroon
- Colombia
- Ecuador
- Ethiopia
- Georgia
- Hong Kong
- Iraq
- Kazakhstan
- Kyrgyzstan
- Libya
- Moldova
- Mongolia
- Myanmar
- Oman
- Papua New Guinea
- Qatar
- São Tomé and Príncipe
- South Korea
- South Sudan
- Suriname
- Syria
- Tajikistan
- United Arab Emirates
- Uzbekistan – 30 days
- Vietnam – 90 days
- Zambia – 90 days
- Congo (Dem. Rep.) – 90 days
- Djibouti – 90 days
- India – 30 days
- Iran – 30 days
- Madagascar – 90 days
- Malaysia – 14 days
- Bolivia – 90 days
Ghana's visa-on-arrival policy
YEN.com.gh also previously reported that Ghana had a visa-on-arrival policy to boost tourism in December 2024.
The new policy was meant to make travel more convenient for visitors coming into the country this festive season.
The policy ended in January 15, 2025, with all travellers entering Ghana able to do so without a pre-approved visa.
The initiative formed part of the ‘December in GH’ campaign, under the broader ‘Beyond the Return’ programme.
Source: YEN.com.gh
