ACCRA, GHANA – As part of efforts to advance continental integration, Ghana’s president, John Mahama, has launched the country’s new electronic visa system. To mark the occasion, which fell on Africa Day, President Mahama also introduced a policy of zero visa fees for all travellers with African passports, in line with the AU’s goals.
“This is indeed a historic day for our nation’s journey to becoming a modern and efficient country that has taken its rightful place on the international stage,” President Mahama said during the launch of the electronic visa initiative.
From now on, visa fees will not apply to any African national visiting Ghana for business or leisure. According to Ghana’s foreign minister, all visas will be issued electronically without delay – within 48 hours at the most. “The emphasis is on speed and efficiency,” he said, adding that this would help increase intra-African trade.
This reform will make Ghana one of the few countries in Africa that allow visa-free or no-fee access to citizens of other African nations, including Benin, The Gambia, and Rwanda. According to authorities, this new policy directly supports the objectives of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA), whose headquarters are in Accra.
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