Ghana and Zambia have signed a landmark visa waiver agreement allowing citizens of both countries to travel freely between the two nations without visas, a move aimed at strengthening people-to-people ties and unlocking new economic opportunities.
The agreement was announced by Ghana’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, during President John Dramani Mahama’s state visit to Zambia. Speaking to journalists in Lusaka, Ablakwa described the pact as one of the most significant outcomes of the visit, noting that it removes long-standing bureaucratic barriers faced by students, professionals, businesspeople and tourists.
“You will no longer have to stress about visas,” Ablakwa said, adding that the decision followed a direct directive from President Mahama to prioritise easier movement between African countries.
President Mahama was received by Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema, who welcomed the visa-free arrangement as a boost to regional mobility and cooperation. Officials from both countries said the waiver is expected to enhance trade, tourism, investment flows and cultural exchange, while also deepening diplomatic relations.
The visa waiver aligns with broader African integration efforts under frameworks such as the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), which seeks to promote freer movement of people, goods and services across the continent. Advocates of the policy argue that easing travel restrictions reduces costs, encourages business expansion and strengthens cultural and educational linkages.
Ghana has been particularly active in expanding visa access in recent years, signing multiple bilateral agreements and signalling plans to introduce an e-visa system to make travel easier for Africans in the diaspora and other visitors. The agreement with Zambia reflects this wider strategy to position Ghana as a hub for regional and continental connectivity.
Economists and regional integration proponents say that broader adoption of visa waiver agreements across Africa could significantly boost intra-African trade, tourism and labour mobility. By reducing administrative hurdles, countries can better harness the economic potential of the continent’s population and support cross-border collaboration.
As Ghana and Zambia move to implement the visa-free travel arrangement, observers say the deal could serve as a model for other African nations seeking to advance open-borders policies and build a more connected and integrated continent.
