Ghana and Antigua and Barbuda have signed a visa waiver agreement designed to ease business travel and strengthen economic ties between Africa and the Caribbean.
The deal, covering ordinary, service, and diplomatic passports, was signed in New York on the sidelines of the 80th United Nations General Assembly after a meeting between Ghana’s Foreign Minister, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, and his Antiguan counterpart, E.P. Chet Greene.
The move is expected to facilitate mobility for investors, business leaders, and cultural exchanges, while laying the groundwork for expanded trade and tourism flows.
Ablakwa stressed that direct travel links between the two regions are essential to unlocking economic opportunities, pointing out that reliance on third-country transit visas has created obstacles for businesses and cultural groups.
Greene echoed the call, saying Africa-Caribbean relations are “family ties rooted in history and culture,” and urged the exploration of direct routes to remove barriers to trade and investment.
Both ministers agreed that closer Africa-Caribbean cooperation could help attract investment and create new growth opportunities across sectors. Ablakwa noted that Ghana has recently stepped up outreach to Caribbean nations including Trinidad and Tobago and Grenada.
The meeting also touched on Ghana’s broader push for reparations to be placed on the same footing as genocide and xenophobia, with Greene commending the initiative as “timely” and aligned with global debates on fairness and inclusion.
