During his final State of the Nation address on Friday, Ghana’s outgoing President Nana Akufo-Addo announced a significant policy change: effective immediately, all African passport holders will be able to enter Ghana without a visa.
This initiative aims to foster economic integration across the continent.
Akufo-Addo expressed pride in this decision, stating, “I am proud to have approved visa-free travel to Ghana for all African passport holders, with effect from the beginning of this year.”
He emphasized that this policy aligns with the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and contributes to the goals of the African Union’s Agenda 2063, which envisions a fully integrated and connected Africa by 2063.
Prior to this announcement, Ghana already permitted visa-free access for citizens from 26 African nations and offered visas on arrival for travelers from 25 additional countries.
Only Eritrea and Morocco were required to obtain visas before entry.
With this new policy, Ghana positions itself alongside other African nations like Rwanda, Seychelles, Gambia, and Benin in offering visa-free travel to African citizens.
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This decision further builds on Ghana’s reputation as a welcoming destination, following the successful 2019 Year of Return initiative that commemorated 400 years since the transatlantic slave trade and celebrated the African diaspora.
This campaign attracted thousands, including notable celebrities, bolstering Ghana’s cultural and tourism profile and even resulting in some visitors receiving citizenship.
In his address, Akufo-Addo also highlighted the economic progress achieved during his tenure.
He noted a rise in Ghana’s gross international reserves from $6.2 billion in 2017 to $8 billion and projected a GDP growth rate of 6.3% for 2025 as the country continues to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic. “Economic growth has returned to the pre-COVID trajectory,” he stated, assuring citizens of Ghana’s resilience amid global challenges.
The president, who is stepping down after two terms in office on January 6, handed over power to John Mahama following the recent elections. Despite facing one of its toughest economic crises in decades since 2022 and being under a $3 billion International Monetary Fund relief program, Ghana remains one of the most stable democracies in Africa, with institutions that he believes are functioning effectively.
