Cabinet approves visa-free travel for Ghanaians to three nations

Ghana’s Cabinet has approved three visa waiver agreements with the Maldives, Zambia and Antigua and Barbuda, clearing the way for Parliament to ratify the deals and allow visa free travel between the countries.

The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, announced this in a Facebook post on April 22, 2026. He said the agreements, which were signed during separate diplomatic engagements, would take effect after parliamentary approval.

The arrangements cover holders of ordinary, service and diplomatic passports from all four countries and allow stays of up to 30 days without a visa.

Mr Ablakwa said Parliament is expected to ratify the agreements soon, after which they will take full legal effect.

The agreement with the Maldives dates back to March 2023, when both countries signed a mutual visa exemption deal. The Maldives Ministry of Foreign Affairs had indicated its readiness to begin implementation and was awaiting Ghana’s response.

Tuesday’s Cabinet approval represents Ghana’s formal step to activate the agreement.

The Zambia agreement followed President John Dramani Mahama’s three day state visit to Lusaka in February 2026. During the visit, Mr Ablakwa announced the deal to journalists. A Memorandum of Understanding covering all passport categories was signed.

The agreement with Antigua and Barbuda was signed during the 80th Session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York in September 2025.

In his post, Mr Ablakwa stated, “We shall keep negotiating more Visa Waiver Agreements as we add greater value to the Ghanaian Passport,” adding that measures would also be taken to tighten security in the passport acquisition process.

As of February 2026, Ghana had concluded 15 visa waiver arrangements since President Mahama took office, according to reports at the time of the Zambia visit.

The three agreements awaiting parliamentary ratification form part of that number.