What you need to know:
- The policy, set to take effect in early 2025, will make Ghana the fifth African country to open its borders to all holders of African passports thus ensuring regional integration.
Previously, Ghana provided visa-free access to citizens of 26 African nations, while travelers from 25 other African countries could obtain a visa upon arrival.
According to the Visa Openness Ranking, Ghana secured the 5th position in Africa, coming behind Rwanda, Seychelles, The Gambia, and Benin who are the only African countries offering visa-free entry to all African passport holders.
Only two African nations required a visa prior to visiting Ghana, reflecting the country’s efforts to promote regional integration and facilitate movement across the continent.
The road to regional integration
According to Citi Newsroom (CNR), President Nana Akufo-Addo granted executive approval for a comprehensive visa-free travel policy on Wednesday, December 18, 2024.
President Akufo-Addo’s tenure ends on January 7, 2025, when the newly elected president, John Mahama, will assume power in Ghana.
This move fulfills his pledge at the Africa Prosperity Dialogues (APD 2024) in January 2024 to introduce visa-free entry for citizens of all African nations.
The policy, set to take effect in early 2025, will make Ghana the fifth African country to open its borders to all holders of African passports thus ensuring regional integration.
This initiative follows the administration’s annual year-end tradition of offering visas on arrival for all travelers.
Ghana’s Tourism Authority in November, announced that from December 1, 2024, to January 15, 2025, visitors can benefit from a Non-Pre-Approval Visa policy as part of the transformative 10-year “Beyond the Return” initiative.
The program is a 10-year initiative launched by the Ghanaian government to boost tourism, encourage the return of Africans and Ghanaians living abroad, and strengthen economic ties with the diaspora.
This decision marks a significant step toward realizing the African Union’s goal of economic integration under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
However, there’s a significant paradox: despite aspirations for unity, most Africans still need visas to enter other African countries.
The African Development Bank (AfDB) highlights that stringent visa requirements in some African nations have created barriers to free movement and regional integration.
Countries like Libya, Equatorial Guinea, and Sudan have some of the most restrictive visa policies for African visitors.
This limits opportunities for trade, tourism, and cultural exchange among African countries. Ironically, some foreign nations enjoy visa-free access to various African countries, while many African states still enforce strict visa requirements on their fellow African nations.
Overall, easing visa requirements could boost economic growth, tourism, and cultural exchange across the continent.
Source: The Citizen
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