Ghana has taken a significant step to expand international travel access for its citizens following Cabinet approval of three visa waiver agreements with the Maldives, Zambia and Antigua and Barbuda.
The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, announced the decision in a Facebook post on April 22, 2026, noting that the agreements are now awaiting parliamentary ratification before they can take full legal effect.
Once approved by Parliament, the deals will allow holders of ordinary, service and diplomatic passports from the four countries to travel visa-free for up to 30 days.
According to the minister, the agreements were signed during separate diplomatic engagements over the past few years but required Cabinet approval to proceed to the ratification stage.
The visa waiver agreement with the Maldives dates back to March 2023, when both countries signed a mutual exemption deal. Authorities in the Maldives had since indicated their readiness to implement the arrangement, pending Ghana’s formal activation, which has now been set in motion with the latest Cabinet decision.
The agreement with Zambia followed a three-day state visit to Lusaka by John Dramani Mahama in February 2026. During the visit, a Memorandum of Understanding covering all passport categories was signed, paving the way for visa-free travel between the two countries.
Similarly, the agreement with Antigua and Barbuda was concluded during the 80th Session of the United Nations General Assembly held in New York in September 2025.
Mr Ablakwa expressed optimism that Parliament would ratify the agreements soon, enabling their full implementation. He also reiterated the government’s commitment to expanding visa-free travel opportunities for Ghanaians.
“We shall keep negotiating more Visa Waiver Agreements as we add greater value to the Ghanaian Passport,” he stated, adding that efforts would also be intensified to strengthen security in the passport acquisition process.
As of February 2026, Ghana had concluded 15 visa waiver arrangements since President Mahama assumed office, with the latest three forming part of ongoing efforts to improve global mobility for Ghanaian citizens.
