Ghana is on track to making travel into the country easier and more welcoming, following Cabinet’s approval of a new electronic visa (e-visa) policy aimed at boosting tourism, business, and regional integration in the country.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, announced the decision in a Facebook post on Saturday, revealing that the new system will soon allow travellers to apply for visas online without the usual stress of long queues or paperwork.

“Cabinet has approved our new e visa policy. The e visa regime covers those travelling to Ghana for business and tourism,” he wrote.

The move builds on an earlier announcement by President John Dramani Mahama, who first unveiled the policy on April 2, 2026, during a state visit by Zimbabwean leader Emmerson Mnangagwa.

He indicated that from May 25, 2026, marking Africa Day, African travellers will be able to apply for e-visas online at no cost.

Beyond policy, the initiative signals Ghana’s broader message to the world: that it remains open, welcoming, and ready for investment and exploration.

“When others make you feel unwelcome, Ghana says this is your home to invest and to enjoy the beauty of nature,” Ablakwa wrote.

For many travellers, especially within Africa, the change could remove a major barrier. Currently, African Union nationals who opt for visas on arrival pay $150 for a 30-day stay.

Under the new system, that fee will be scrapped, although the application and screening process will still apply.

“Africans will still have to go through a visa application process like everyone else, theirs would simply be gratis,” he said.

Behind the scenes, the government says the system will not compromise security. The e-visa platform will be integrated with Ghana’s Advanced Passenger Information and Passenger Name Record systems, as well as international crime databases, allowing authorities to screen travellers before they arrive.

Ablakwa tied the initiative to the government’s wider agenda of repositioning the country.

“Resetting Ghana must reflect in every facet,” he wrote.

If successfully implemented, Ghana will join a small but growing group of African countries, including Benin, The Gambia, Rwanda, and Seychelles, that have eased visa restrictions to encourage movement across the continent.

Cabinet has approved our new e-Visa policy.

The e-Visa regime covers those traveling to Ghana for business and tourism.

When others make you feel unwelcome, Ghana says this is your home to invest and to enjoy the beauty of nature.

As President Mahama declared at his…

— Sam Okudzeto Ablakwa (@S_OkudzetoAblak) April 25, 2026