JUST IN: Cabinet approves visa-free travel for Ghanaians to three nations
Ghana’s Cabinet has given the green light to three visa waiver agreements with Maldives, Zambia, and Antigua and Barbuda, paving the way for Parliament to ratify them and enable visa-free travel among the countries.
The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, announced the development in a Facebook post on April 22, 2026. He explained that the agreements—signed during separate diplomatic engagements—will come into effect once Parliament grants approval.
The deals apply to holders of ordinary, service, and diplomatic passports from all four nations, allowing them to stay for up to 30 days without requiring a visa.
According to Ablakwa, Parliament is expected to ratify the agreements soon, after which they will become fully operational.
He noted that the agreement with the Maldives dates back to March 2023, when both countries signed a mutual visa exemption pact, with Maldivian authorities indicating readiness to implement it pending Ghana’s confirmation. Tuesday’s Cabinet approval marks Ghana’s formal move to activate the arrangement.
The agreement with Zambia stems from President John Dramani Mahama’s three-day state visit to Lusaka in February 2026, during which a Memorandum of Understanding covering all passport categories was signed.
Meanwhile, the Antigua and Barbuda deal was concluded during the 80th Session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York in September 2025.
In his post, Ablakwa reaffirmed the government’s commitment to expanding visa waiver agreements to enhance the value of the Ghanaian passport, while also noting that steps would be taken to strengthen security in the passport acquisition process.
As of February 2026, Ghana had finalized 15 visa waiver agreements since President Mahama assumed office, with the three pending deals forming part of that total.
