The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has announced that the Government plans to introduce an electronic visa (e-visa) system in the first quarter of 2026 to make travel to Ghana easier, cheaper and more convenient for Africans in the diaspora.
The Minister said the initiative, which is being implemented on the directive of President John Dramani Mahama, forms part of efforts to strengthen Ghana’s engagement with Africans living abroad and boost diaspora inflows.
Mr Ablakwa made the announcement at the closing session of the maiden Diaspora Summit held in Accra.
“I am delighted to announce to you that this government, under strict instruction of President John Dramani Mahama, will be rolling out an e-visa policy in the first quarter of next year, 2026,” the Minister said.
He explained that the new e-visa regime would include special dispensations for Africans in the diaspora to reduce visa costs and remove barriers that often make travel to Ghana cumbersome.
“We have discussed with management and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs that we are going to have a special dispensation for Africans in the diaspora so that you will not have to make the same payments as others will make, and you can travel to the motherland easily, smoothly and more conveniently,” Mr Ablakwa said.
He said the policy would be guided by the principle of reciprocity, noting that visa fees charged by Ghana would reflect what Ghanaian citizens pay when travelling to other countries.
“How much we pay when we want to go into their country, we will make sure we are all paying the same in the spirit of reciprocity, so we can all raise the funds that we need to develop our country,” he added.
Beyond easing travel, the Minister linked the e-visa initiative to broader economic objectives, stressing that increased diaspora arrivals could translate into higher investment, tourism receipts and government revenue.
Mr Ablakwa also highlighted the importance of revitalising Ghana’s national aviation capacity, arguing that increased passenger traffic could have a stronger impact on the domestic economy if channelled through a national carrier.
“Imagine if all the tickets of those who flew into the country were on Ghana Airways; that money would have been an investment in the Ghanaian economy and not in other countries where those ticket resources are going to,” he said.
Reinforcing the economic significance of the reforms, the Presidential Advisor on the 24-Hour Economy, Mr Augustus Goosie Obuadum Tanoh, encouraged members of the diaspora to view the policy changes as an opportunity to invest in Ghana’s productive sectors.
He explained that the 24-Hour Economy programme was designed to drive growth through integrated value chains, linking agriculture to processing and agro-industrial partnerships, supported by logistics and distribution hubs.
According to Mr Tanoh, aligning diaspora investment with the 24-Hour Economy agenda could accelerate industrialisation, create jobs and strengthen Ghana’s economic resilience.
