Ghana will introduce a free visa policy for African travellers from May 25, 2026, as part of a new electronic visa (e-visa) system, Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa has announced.
In a Facebook post on Friday, April 3, the minister said African applicants would no longer pay visa fees but would still be required to go through the standard visa application and screening process. He stressed that the policy does not mean automatic entry into Ghana.
“All applicants, including Africans, will apply through the e-visa platform,” he said, adding that the system will be linked to international crime databases and Ghana’s API-PNR system to allow for proper background checks.
According to the minister, individuals with criminal records or deemed security risks will not be granted entry.
The government says the free visa policy forms part of broader efforts to modernise Ghana’s immigration system, supported by new investments from the ministries responsible for foreign affairs, interior and transport.
The announcement follows an earlier declaration by Nana Akufo-Addo in 2024, which was not implemented due to the absence of the required security and technological systems.
President John Dramani Mahama has now confirmed that the country is ready to roll out both the e-visa platform and the free visa policy, with full security safeguards in place.
