Ghana moves closer to visa-free access to Maldives, Zambia and Antigua

Ghana’s Cabinet has approved three visa waiver agreements with the Maldives, Zambia and Antigua and Barbuda, paving the way for Parliament to ratify the deals and allow visa-free travel among the countries.

The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, announced the decision in a Facebook post on April 22, 2026, explaining that the agreements, signed during separate diplomatic engagements, will take effect once Parliament grants approval.

The arrangements apply to holders of ordinary, service and diplomatic passports from all four countries and permit visa-free stays of up to 30 days.

Mr Ablakwa indicated that Parliament is expected to ratify the agreements in due course, after which they will take full legal effect.

He explained that the agreement with the Maldives dates back to March 2023, when both countries signed a mutual visa exemption pact. At the time, the Maldives Ministry of Foreign Affairs signalled its readiness to implement the arrangement and was awaiting Ghana’s response.

Tuesday’s Cabinet approval, therefore, marks Ghana’s formal step towards activating that agreement.

The Zambia deal followed President John Dramani Mahama’s three-day state visit to Lusaka in February 2026, during which Mr Ablakwa announced the agreement to journalists. A Memorandum of Understanding covering all passport categories was signed.

The agreement with Antigua and Barbuda was concluded on the sidelines of the 80th Session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York in September 2025.

In his post, Mr Ablakwa stated, “We shall keep negotiating more Visa Waiver Agreements as we add greater value to the Ghanaian Passport,” adding that steps would also be taken to tighten security in the passport acquisition process.

Available figures indicate that as of February 2026, Ghana had concluded 15 visa waiver arrangements since President Mahama returned to office, with the three pending agreements forming part of that total.