Ghana and Russia have signed a Visa Waiver Agreement for holders of diplomatic and service passports, allowing eligible passport holders from the two countries to travel between Ghana and Russia without visas.
The agreement was signed in Moscow on during a three-day official visit to Russia by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa.
The visit followed an invitation from his Russian counterpart, Mr Sergey Lavrov.
The agreement is the first visa waiver arrangement between Ghana and Russia since the two countries established formal diplomatic relations in 1958.
“On my first day of this important official visit, we signed a historic Visa Waiver Agreement for holders of Diplomatic and Service Passports,” Mr Ablakwa wrote in social media post on Tuesday, (August 18, 2026).
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The agreement covers diplomatic and service passport holders from both Ghana and Russia. It does not extend visa-free travel to holders of ordinary passports.
Mr Ablakwa said the two countries would continue negotiations on extending visa privileges to other categories of travellers.
“We shall continue with negotiations for enhanced privileges for all categories of travellers as we bolster trade, investments and people-to-people exchanges,” he said.
Mr Ablakwa said the purpose of the Moscow visit went beyond the visa waiver agreement.
“This official visit will map out broader areas of strategic cooperation between Ghana and Russia,” he said.
Wider Ghana-Russia relations
Ghana and the Soviet Union established close relations during the administration of Ghana’s first President, Dr Kwame Nkrumah.
Dr Nkrumah pursued relations with countries outside the traditional Western bloc as part of his industrialisation and Pan-African policies.
Education has also been an important part of the relationship, with thousands of Ghanaians having studied at Soviet and Russian universities over the years.
Many returned to Ghana to work in areas such as engineering, medicine, science and technology.
Mr Ablakwa’s visit comes ahead of the Third Russia-Africa Summit, scheduled for October 28 and 29, 2026, in Moscow.
President Mahama has been invited to attend the summit.
Mr Ablakwa said President Mahama hoped to hold bilateral talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin on the sidelines of the summit to discuss further areas of cooperation between Ghana and Russia.
