The Governments of Ghana and Zambia have announced a landmark visa waiver agreement that will allow citizens of both countries to travel freely between the two nations without the need for visas.
The development was revealed by Ghana’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, during President John Dramani Mahama’s three-day state visit to Zambia, aimed at deepening diplomatic, economic, and people-to-people relations between the two African states.
President Mahama arrived in Lusaka on Wednesday, February 4, to a warm reception at the Kenneth Kaunda International Airport, where he was welcomed by Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema. The visit marks a significant step in strengthening bilateral cooperation between Accra and Lusaka.
Speaking to journalists on the sidelines of the visit, Mr. Ablakwa described the visa waiver agreement as one of the most significant outcomes of the trip and a central focus of high-level discussions between the two governments.
According to the Foreign Affairs Minister, the removal of visa requirements is expected to boost trade, tourism, investment, and cultural exchange, while easing long-standing travel challenges faced by citizens of both countries.
“We have also ensured that as a ministry, we are prioritising your smooth mobility, and one of the major outcomes of this state visit—which you will hear President [John Dramani] Mahama talk about—is that for the first time in the history of Ghana–Zambia relations, we are going to have a free visa between our two countries,” Mr. Ablakwa said. “You no longer have to stress about visas.”
He further disclosed that the visa-free arrangement was a direct instruction from President Mahama ahead of the visit, underscoring the importance the President placed on achieving concrete outcomes for ordinary citizens.
“So we are going to have a visa waiver agreement. And it is one of the conditions that President Mahama gave us for this visit. He said, ‘Foreign Minister, if you don’t make this happen, don’t join me on this visit,’” Ablakwa added.
The new policy is expected to significantly benefit students, businesspeople, tourists, professionals, and other travelers by removing bureaucratic barriers and promoting greater mobility between the two countries.
Observers say the agreement aligns with broader continental efforts under the African Union’s integration agenda and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), positioning Ghana and Zambia as key advocates of African cooperation, connectivity, and economic integration.
