- President John Dramani Mahama launched Ghana’s e-Visa portal and free ETA system on May twenty-fifth, twenty twenty-six.
- African Union nationals now enjoy fee-free travel to Ghana for business and tourism via the digital platform.
- New security measures shift passenger screening before arrival by integrating with international crime databases and passenger information.
Ghana opened its e-Visa portal and free Electronic Travel Authorisation system on May 25, 2026, in Accra, and President John Dramani Mahama used the 63rd African Union Day ceremony to mark the shift. The switch was immediate.
Mahama framed the rollout as a new start. He said:
"We are gathered here not merely to launch a digital platform, but to affirm Ghana’s readiness to embrace a new era of mobility, connectivity, innovation, and economic opportunity. . Effective today, all holders of African passports travelling to Ghana for business or tourism will apply exclusively through the new online platform, and they will pay no visa fee."
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From that day, African passport holders travelling for business or tourism must go through the online system. No paper queue remains for that route. The government has replaced manual visa processing with a digital workflow that starts before travel.
Muntaka Mohammed Mubarak gave the security case for the change. He called the platform a "major step in improving Ghana’s border management system" and said it allows officials to "identify security risks before travelers arrive in the country." The Interior Ministry wants the screening done upstream. Much earlier.
Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa tied the launch to trade and mobility. He said the e-Visa shows Ghana's commitment to "open its borders for business and tourism" while keeping "enhanced security systems of international standard." The foreign ministry cast access and control as partners, not rivals. Both moved together.
Fees and timing now split by category.
| Category | Cost | Timing |
|---|---|---|
| African Union member state nationals, excluding ECOWAS/AES | Free Electronic Travel Authorisation | Pre-travel approval |
| Non-African nationals, tourism or business | USD 260 | 96 hours |
| Non-African nationals, express option | USD 442 | 5-hour turnaround |
The free ETA covers African Union member state nationals, except ECOWAS and AES nationals, who remain visa-exempt. Ghana has also largely dropped the Visa-on-Arrival system. The new regime puts the check before boarding.
Security checks move before arrival
The old VOA model now sits in the background. Its replacement is a mandatory pre-travel e-Visa and ETA process. Arrivals now clear more checks before they land.
The portal also connects to international crime databases and Ghana’s Advanced Passenger Information systems. That gives officers a wider picture before a flight touches down. The control point shifted.
Ghana joins a small group of fee-free African entry systems
Officials said Ghana is now the sixth African country to remove visa fees for all African citizens. They placed the move inside AU Agenda 2063 and the "African Passport and Free Movement of People" push. That is the wider frame.
The government is also selling the change as a "Gateway to Africa" for the diaspora and investors. The pitch is simple. Lower barriers, more movement.
The Ghana Immigration Service has put the portal at its e-visa site. It is live now.
