Cabinet approves visa waiver for Antigua and Barbuda, Maldives, Zambia- Ablakwa announces

The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has announced that Cabinet has approved visa waiver agreements between Ghana and Maldives, Antigua and Barbuda, and Zambia, pending parliamentary ratification.

The visa waiver agreements will cover all categories of passports, diplomatic, service, and ordinary passport holders, in a move aimed at strengthening the Ghanaian passport and improving global mobility for Ghanaian citizens.

The development adds to Ghana’s growing list of over 50 visa waiver agreements with countries worldwide, as the government continues efforts to ease travel for citizens. It also complements Ghana’s landmark initiative to grant visa-free entry to all Africans travelling to Ghana, expected to be rolled out on Africa Day, May 25, 2026.

Under the agreement, Ghanaians and citizens of the three countries will be permitted to undertake visits of up to 30 days per trip without requiring visas, once Parliament ratifies the agreements.

“Ghanaians and citizens of the three countries can embark on a maximum of 30-day visits per trip without requiring visas. Parliament is expected to ratify the Cabinet approvals shortly,” Ablakwa stated.

He further assured that the government would continue negotiating additional visa waiver agreements to enhance the value of the Ghanaian passport and improve travel accessibility.

“We shall keep negotiating more Visa Waiver Agreements as we add greater value to the Ghanaian Passport, and at the same time enhance security protocols around acquiring Ghanaian Passports,” he added.

This year, Ghana has pursued visa waiver agreements with countries including Kyrgyzstan, Belarus, Zambia, and Antigua and Barbuda. Ghana already maintains reciprocal visa arrangements with several countries including China, Cuba, Germany, Brazil, South Africa, Namibia, India, Equatorial Guinea, and Morocco for diplomatic and service passport holders.

The visa waiver agreement with the Maldives is expected to boost tourism, diplomatic cooperation, and investment between Ghana and the island nation. The Maldives, a leading global tourism destination in South Asia, presents opportunities for collaboration in tourism management, hospitality training, and climate resilience, particularly as both countries face environmental and coastal management challenges.

The agreement with Antigua and Barbuda strengthens Ghana’s engagement with Caribbean nations and deepens historical and cultural ties between Africa and the Caribbean. The Caribbean state has increasingly expanded diplomatic cooperation with African countries, particularly in trade, education, and tourism. The visa waiver is expected to enhance people-to-people exchanges and strengthen economic collaboration between Ghana and the Caribbean region.

For Zambia, the arrangement further strengthens intra-African mobility and supports continental integration efforts. Zambia, a member of regional blocs such as the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA), offers strategic opportunities for trade expansion, investment partnerships, and enhanced cooperation within the framework of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

The move is expected to facilitate smoother mobility, increase trade volumes, and promote cultural and educational exchanges between Ghana and the three countries. Ghana’s passport mobility has also improved significantly in recent years, with global passport rankings showing steady gains, reinforcing the country’s position as a key gateway to Africa.

Source: Diplomatic Times