The Ghana government has been explaining its new e-visa policy holds towards other African nationals intending to visit Ghana.
Minister for Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, made the clarifications in a social media post stating that the new system is designed to weaken, border control mechanisms.
It instead, would strengthen it, he stated.
In the new policy, African applicants would still be required to undergo a full application and screening process, though not expected to pay visa fees.
“The Free Visa for Africans is a component of the e-Visa initiative.”
“The novel e-Visa system shall be linked to Ghana’s newly established API-PNR system and other international crime database which allows our consular officers to check background of applicants and provide appropriate vetting,” he said.
Clarifying that entry into Ghana will not be automatic under the new policy, he added:
“People with criminal or deemed unsatisfactory records will not be admitted into Ghana.
“Not paying visa fees is not the same as automatic entry into Ghana. There shall be no automatic and unvetted entries.”
“Adequate investments have been made by the Ministries of Foreign Affairs, the Interior and Transport to ensure a robust and technologically advanced architecture is in place,” he noted.
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Responding to delays in implementing a similar policy announced in 2024 by former President Nana Akufo-Addo, the Foreign Affairs Minister stated:
“For clarity, though former President Nana Akufo-Addo announced a Free Visa for Africans policy in 2024, that could not commence because the mechanisms and security safeguards had not yet been put in place.
“As President Mahama indicated, Ghana is now ready to launch an e-Visa platform for all applicants across the world and a Free Visa for Africans policy from Africa Day which is May 25, 2026 fully anchored on appropriate security and technological frameworks,” he said.
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