President John Dramani Mahama has announced that Ghana has scrapped its visa-on-arrival arrangement for African travellers and replaced it with a new electronic visa (e-Visa) system aimed at improving security, efficiency, and regional integration.
Speaking at the launch of the e-Visa platform on Monday, May 25 at Kempinski, the President said all African passport holders travelling to Ghana for business or tourism will now be required to apply online through the new system.
He explained that the reform is part of efforts to modernise Ghana’s immigration processes and move away from manual, paper-based systems that often cause delays and inconvenience for travellers.
According to him, the e-Visa platform allows applicants to submit documents electronically, make secure digital payments, and receive travel authorisation directly via email or mobile devices.
President Mahama stated that while the visa-on-arrival policy for Africans has been discontinued, Ghana remains committed to openness and regional integration under the African Union’s Agenda 2063.
He announced that African passport holders will not be charged visa fees under the new system, describing the move as a bold step toward promoting free movement across the continent.
“For emphasis, all African passport holders will not be required to pay visa fees when they apply online,” he said.
He, however, stressed that the policy does not weaken national security, as the system is fully integrated with Ghana’s advanced passenger information and international watchlist databases for thorough screening of applicants.
The President urged African countries to accelerate the implementation of the AU Free Movement Protocol, noting that progress has been slow despite widespread agreement on its importance.
He added that Ghana’s decision reflects its long-standing commitment to Pan-Africanism and the vision of Dr Kwame Nkrumah for a united and connected Africa.
Source: Mubarak Yakubu
