President John Dramani Mahama has announced that from May 25, 2026, Ghana will roll out a free visa policy for all Africans.
“I am also pleased to announce that effective 25th May, 2026, when we commemorate Africa Day, Ghana will commence a free visa regime for all Africans. Africans travelling to Ghana will receive their e-visas online free of charge,” President Mahama announced at the end of a bilateral meeting with his visiting Zimbabwean counterpart President Emmerson Mnangagwa at the Peduase Lodge in the Eastern Region.
“But between Ghana and Zimbabwe are In-laws, have a visa-free environment already. We can travel to each other’s countries without needing a visa. You just hop onto the plane and arrive in each other’s country.”
President Mahama said as a cradle of pan-Africanism, Ghana believes it had a historic responsibility to remain open to Africans from across our continent.
He said Ghanaians were firmly of the view that African Governments must accelerate the integration agenda for which Osagyefuo Dr Kwame Nkrumah toiled and sacrificed.
He said this visa-free policy formed part of their broader e-visa reform programme, which the Government would roll out in May this year.
President Mahama said together, the e-visa and free visa initiatives were expected to advance Pan-Africanism, boost integration and tourism, and strengthen Ghana’s attractiveness as an investment destination.
“Let me assure the public that adequate systems have been put in place to prospective visitors and to ensure that the security of our nation is not compromised,” he stated.
“At the same time, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will continue to pursue additional visa waiver agreements for Ghanaians, holders of all kinds of Ghanaian passports.”
President Mahama said since assuming office in 2025, they had signed 23 such visa waiver agreements; stating that these agreements would further enhance the value of the Ghanaian passport and ease travel for our citizens.
President Mahama said the Government of Ghana and the Government of Zimbabwe were determined to ensure their full and effective implementation so that their people might derive measurable and lasting benefits from them.
On continental and global issues, President Mahama said they affirmed their shared commitment to pan-Africanism, African solidarity and closer collaboration with the African Union, the United Nations and other multilateral platforms.
He said they would continue to work to further advance their common positions and protect their shared interests in an increasingly complex international environment.
“We also reviewed the current geopolitical situation marked by deepening conflict, supply chain disruptions and volatility in global energy markets,” he said.
“We exchanged views on these developments and reiterated the importance of dialogue and diplomacy, respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity and adherence to international law in addressing current global challenges.”
President Mahama said they remain committed to supporting a just and equitable international world order that fairly serves the interests of all nations.
He noted that President Mnangagwa’s State visit had been productive, substantive and forward-looking.
Adding that it had provided them with a clear roadmap, renewed political will and fresh momentum to deepen the relations between Ghana and Zimbabwe.
“On behalf of the Government and people of Ghana, I wish to thank my brother, His Excellency President Mnangagwa, and his delegation for honoring us with this state visit and for the spirit of partnership that has characterized our discussions,” he said.
President Mahama said he looked forward to working closely with President Mnangagwa during his tenure of office and to have the opportunity to repay him with a visit to Harare at a date to be negotiated.
He expressed his gratitude to President Mnangagwa for strengthening the bonds of friendship and cooperation between their two countries.
On his part, President Mnangagwa said the warmth of the Government and People of Ghana, reflects the depth of the historic relations and the unique bond that unites their two sister republics.
He said the state visit had provided them with an important opportunity to elevate their bilateral relations to a higher strategic level.
“We remain rooted in the shared ideals of Pan-Africanism, South-South cooperation, and a shared aspiration for African prosperity,” he said.
GNA