Ghana’s newly launched e-visa portal will deliver visa application decisions within 48 hours once applicants submit all required supporting documents, Minister for Foreign Affairs Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa has announced.
Speaking at the launch of the Ghana e-visa portal on Sunday, May 25, Mr. Ablakwa described the platform as an “efficient premium system” designed to transform the country’s visa processing regime and position Ghana as open for business.
According to him, the initiative forms part of President John Dramani Mahama’s broader “Ghana Open for Business” strategy aimed at modernizing travel procedures and boosting economic activity.
Mr. Ablakwa disclosed that the e-visa system currently covers two major visa categories, business visas and tourist visas, while several groups remain exempt from the process.
He explained that exemptions include members of the diplomatic corps, nationals from countries with bilateral visa waiver agreements with Ghana, student visa applicants, and family visa applicants.
According to the Foreign Affairs Minister, Ghana currently has visa waiver agreements with about 50 countries.
He also announced that President Mahama has approved a major policy shift under which all Africans traveling to Ghana will no longer pay visa fees.
“On this day, Africa Day, the president has also decided that all people of the continent of Africa would no longer have to pay visa fees to come to Ghana, the cradle of Pan-Africanism,” he stated.
“So today is a manifestation of the President’s vision to create a new visa regime opening Ghana up for business,” he added.
Mr. Ablakwa further revealed that the standard fee under the new e-visa system has been set at 260 dollars, which he described as “generous” considering the speed and efficiency of the service being offered.
He expressed optimism that the new e-visa portal would boost trade, strengthen regional integration, and support the aspirations of the African Union’s Agenda 2063.
“We hope that it will boost trade and it will show our readiness to achieve Agenda 2063 and to ensure that the dream of Osagyefo Kwame Nkrumah that we deepen trade amongst ourselves will be achieved with this new regime,” he said.
