Akufo-Addo delivers on promise of visa-free travel for all African citizens to Ghana
President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has honored his commitment to allow citizens of all African countries to travel to Ghana without a visa.
This policy, which was first announced during the Africa Prosperity Dialogues (APD 2024) in January, aims to promote the free movement of people, goods, and services across Africa.
With executive approval granted on December 18, 2024, the policy is set to take effect before Akufo-Addo’s term ends on January 6, 2025.
Ghana will join Rwanda, Seychelles, The Gambia, and Benin as one of the few African nations offering visa-free entry to all African passport holders.
This move is a key step in realizing the African Union’s vision of economic integration through the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), aimed at creating the world’s largest single market, uniting 55 nations.
In his APD 2024 keynote address, Akufo-Addo reaffirmed Ghana’s commitment to the initiative, saying, “The government of Ghana is committed to ensuring visa-free travel for all Africans, and the process has begun to implement the policy this year.”
The policy has now been communicated to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration and the Ministry of the Interior, which have started preparations for its implementation.
The Ghana Immigration Service is expected to announce the official start date, likely set for January 1, 2025.
The initiative is expected to facilitate business, tourism, and cultural exchanges across the continent, reinforcing Ghana’s leadership in African unity.
It also addresses frustrations with restrictive immigration policies in other African nations, as business mogul Aliko Dangote highlighted.
“As an investor, I have to apply for 35 different visas,” Dangote shared, noting the challenges African entrepreneurs face when traveling within the continent.
Ghana, which hosts the AfCFTA Secretariat, continues to champion a borderless Africa, aligning with the vision of the late Dr. Kwame Nkrumah.
This policy further positions Ghana as a progressive leader in African integration.
Source-myjoyonline
