President Akufo-Addo has announced his government’s commitment to implementing a visa-free policy for all Africans traveling to Ghana in 2024.
During the opening of the 2024 Africa Prosperity Dialogue on January 25, the President revealed that the necessary processes for the policy’s execution have been initiated.
In his address to participants, he acknowledged the visa requirements for attending the event and highlighted a special arrangement made for the conference, reducing the visa acquisition fee by 50%.
“We reduced the visa acquisition fee by 50%, and we were thus able to receive your visa on arrival. The Government of Ghana is committed to ensuring visa-free access for all Africans travelling into our country, and the process has begun to implement the policy this year.”
President Akufo-Addo emphasized the Government of Ghana’s dedication to providing visa-free access to all Africans visiting the country, with the implementation process set to commence this year.
Encouraging a critical examination of such dialogues, the President stressed their importance in meeting the demands of the private sector.
“These dialogues have to examine critically the responsibilities and expectations of the private sector and demand the same of the public sector and expect that both can work as partners to achieve the Africa we want. We must strengthen our resolve to work hand in hand with our governments in free and fair democratic systems of governance that promote safe and sound, legal, and institutional frameworks. Let us work to get the buy-in of the small trader, builder, farmer, and seamstress and make them believe that having a single market can benefit them as well,” he entreated.
He called for collaboration among Africans to strengthen their governments within a free and fair democratic system.
Additionally, he urged concerted efforts to secure the support of small traders and farmers for the concept of a unified African market, emphasizing its potential benefits for them.
The two-day Africa Prosperity Dialogue, themed “Developing Prosperity in Africa: Produce, Add, Value, and Trade,” is being held at the Peduase Lodge. Organized by the APN in collaboration with the Africa Continental Free Trade Area Secretariat and the Government of Ghana, the event serves as an annual platform for business executives, thought leaders, and political figures to collaborate on advancing the goal of building the world’s largest single market in Africa.
The Africa Prosperity Dialogues were officially adopted by the African Union on February 19, 2023, as a crucial instrument for mobilizing private sector support for the continent’s AfCFTA project.
This decision was made during the 36th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government.