Ghana plans to abolish visas for all Africans by the end of 2024

Ghanaian President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has announced that the country will implement a policy allowing visa-free entry for all African nationals by the end of 2024. The reduction in visa fees from 50% was one of the first steps towards this goal.

A strong commitment to strengthening African integration

At the second edition of the Africa Prosperity Dialogues forum, held at Peduase Lodge in Ghana's Eastern Region, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo reaffirmed his government's commitment to implementing this visa-free policy for all African travelers. During the festive season (mid-December to mid-January), the country had already reintroduced the visa-on-arrival requirement.. This now seems to be moving towards a more complete exemption.

This announcement follows an initial measure taken by the Ghanaian government at the opening of the conference: a 50% reduction in visa fees for participants who normally require a visa, to facilitate their arrival and participation in on-site exchanges.

At present, only a few African countries, including neighboring countries, do not require a visa. Countries on other continents must apply for one in advance.

The underlying idea is to promote greater economic and social integration on the African continent by facilitating the mobility of people and goods. Ghana hopes to follow in the footsteps of Kenya, which introduced a similar policy a few weeks ago..

The challenges of implementing this policy

To succeed in this bold gamble, the Ghanaian government will have to face up to several major challenges:

• Border security
  Ghana will have to step up controls at entry points to prevent illicit trafficking and the passage of potentially dangerous people. Additional measures will have to be taken to ensure the overall security of the territory.
• Cooperation with other African countries
  The success of this policy also depends on alignment with other African countries. It will be essential to establish a dialogue with them to encourage the simultaneous movement of nationals of other countries without visas.
• Economic expectations
  While the visa waiver may boost tourism and trade, it could also mean a loss of revenue for the Ghanaian government. It will be important to ensure that the economic benefits offset this potential loss.

For several years, Ghana has been announcing the forthcoming implementation of a website for issuing e-Visas. First announced for 2019, the project has been postponed until 2021 only for it not to be deployed. The latest exchanges point to early 2024.

• Ghana

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