President John Mahama has asserted that Ghana welcomes Africans to Accra as their home, contrasting the country’s approach with the expulsions and anti-immigrant sentiments witnessed in some parts of the continent, particularly South Africa.
Speaking at the launch of Ghana’s new E-Visa platform, which waives visa fees for Africans entering Ghana, President Mahama underscored the significance of the travel reforms as a mechanism to ease entry into the country and strengthen African integration.
He contrasted Ghana’s position with recent developments in South Africa, where vigilante groups have organized intimidating protests targeting undocumented African migrants, allegedly assaulting them and preventing them from accessing public hospitals and schools.
President Mahama urged other African countries to adopt travel policies that open borders to fellow Africans, describing the reforms as necessary steps toward creating a borderless continent, boosting cross-border trade, and advancing the objectives of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
“Ghana’s doors are open, and we encourage others to open their doors as well. While some countries are expelling fellow Africans and making them feel uncomfortable, Ghana welcomes them and proudly affirms that this is your home,” he said.
The Minister for Foreign Affairs stated that the E-Visa platform introduces faster processing times, enhanced security verification, improved accessibility for applicants abroad, reduced human interface, and greater transparency in the visa acquisition process.
Unlike the previous Visa-on-Arrival arrangement, which often required physical processing at ports of entry, the new E-Visa system allows travelers to complete applications online before departure, receive digital travel authorization, and undergo pre-screening prior to arrival in Ghana.
The platform is also expected to integrate biometric and digital verification systems to strengthen border security while simplifying travel procedures for tourists, businesspersons, investors, students, and participants in regional trade activities. Officials say the move is intended to reduce long queues, eliminate bureaucratic delays, and minimize opportunities for corruption associated with manual processing.
Government officials further explained that the E-Visa system forms part of Ghana’s broader digitalization agenda aimed at modernizing immigration services and positioning the country as a regional hub for tourism, commerce, diplomacy, and Pan-African engagement. The reforms are also expected to improve data collection and migration management while ensuring compliance with international travel and security standards.
The E-Visa initiative aligns with ongoing African Union efforts to promote free movement across the continent and deepen economic integration under the AfCFTA framework headquartered in Accra. Policy analysts believe the system could significantly enhance Ghana’s attractiveness as a destination for conferences, investment, creative industries, and intra-African business expansion.
The introduction of the E-Visa platform effectively replaces the temporary Visa-on-Arrival policy introduced for African travelers and establishes a more structured, technology-driven immigration system intended to facilitate seamless travel into Ghana.
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