Has President Mahama abandoned Akufo-Addo’s visa-free policy for African travelers?

Has President John Dramani Mahama introduced a new travel policy that effectively replaces the visa-free arrangement announced by former President Nana Akufo-Addo?

Speaking on AU Day on Monday, 25 May 2026, President Mahama announced that all holders of African passports travelling to Ghana for business or tourism would now apply for visas exclusively through a new online e-Visa platform, although applicants would not be required to pay visa fees.

Does this new system represent a shift from the policy approved in December 2024 under the Akufo-Addo administration, which granted visa-free travel to African passport holders entering Ghana for up to 30 days within a 90-day period?

The Executive Approval issued on 18 December 2024 reportedly endorsed an exemption from visa requirements for African passport holders and extended the visa regime to all African countries alongside ECOWAS member states.

Was the original policy intended to strengthen Ghana’s commitment to continental integration initiatives such as African Union Agenda 2063, the African Continental Free Trade Area, and broader efforts toward free movement across Africa?

While the new policy removes visa fees, does requiring travelers to complete an e-Visa application process amount to a departure from a fully visa-free system?

Could this be viewed as a policy adjustment, or does it signal a broader change in Ghana’s approach to African mobility and regional integration? Observers continue to debate whether the move represents a practical administrative change or a slowdown in the drive toward a more borderless Africa.