President John Dramani Mahama has launched Ghana’s first e-Visa service portal, marking a major shift in the country’s immigration and travel administration system.Ghanaian economic insights
The online platform allows travellers to apply for, pay for, and receive visas electronically without physically visiting a Ghanaian embassy or consulate.
Launching the portal at an event on Monday, May 25, 2026, President Mahama announced that all African passport holders travelling to Ghana for business purposes would now apply for visas exclusively through the new online system and would not pay visa fees.
“Effective today, all holders of African passports travelling to Ghana for business will apply for a visa exclusively through the new online platform, and they will pay no visa fee,” the President said.
“The previous visa-on-arrival system is hereby discontinued and replaced with this new visa regime,” he added.
President Mahama said the initiative forms part of a broader continental integration vision aimed at reconnecting Africans and the diaspora with Ghana.
“Our long-term vision is even broader. We envisage a future, which is not too far, of a time where all people of African descent can travel to Ghana without paying any visa fee as they reconnect with their ancestry,” he stated.
“I have therefore directed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of the Interior to work out the modalities required to advance this vision,” he added.
Minister for the Interior, Muntaka Mubarak, described the portal as a transformative step aimed at removing bureaucratic barriers and improving Ghana’s attractiveness to investors and tourists.
“This platform does something powerful; it removes barriers. No more unnecessary delays, no more uncertainty, no more outdated processes. Instead, we offer speed, convenience and confidence,” he said.
“We are telling the world that Ghana is ready for business, tourism, global partnership, and above all, Ghana is open for you,” the Interior Minister added.Ghanaian economic insights
Mr. Mubarak stressed that the digital visa system would also strengthen national security measures rather than weaken them.
“The openness does not mean weakness. We are not opening our doors carelessly; we are strengthening them, and this platform ensures that security is smarter than ever before,” he said.
Minister for Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, assured applicants that the new platform would significantly reduce processing times.
“We are also pleased to announce to you that this e-visa portal, once you begin the visa application process and submit all the supporting documents, you will expect a decision to be delivered to you within 48 hours. That is how efficient the system is,” he stated.
