Ghana has been ranked fifth on the latest Africa Visa Openness Index (AVOI), reflecting its commitment to fostering easier travel access across the continent.
The index, published by the African Union Commission and the African Development Bank (AfDB), measures how freely travelers can enter a country, focusing on visa policies and ease of entry.
Ghana achieved a score of 0.868, placing it just behind the top-ranked nations—Benin, Seychelles, Gambia, and Rwanda—who share the number one position. The ranking underscores Ghana’s relatively liberal approach, where travelers can either enter visa-free or obtain a visa upon arrival, unlike restrictive systems that require pre-arranged visas.
The 2024 report highlights notable progress in visa openness across Africa, with 17 countries improving their scores in the past year. This builds on the gains made in previous editions, bringing the total number of countries that have enhanced their scores since 2016 to 39. While 29 nations maintained their scores, eight saw declines.
“Visa openness across Africa is now at its highest since we began tracking it nine years ago. This reflects a shared continental effort to ease travel and promote collaboration,” remarked Nnenna Lily Nwabufo, Vice President of Regional Development, Integration, and Business Delivery at the AfDB.
Despite advancements, challenges remain. Many Africans still encounter significant visa barriers when traveling within the continent, hampering tourism, trade, and entrepreneurial opportunities. AU Commissioner Minata Samate Cessouma stressed the need for greater political will to address these obstacles. “While progress is evident, reluctance from some nations remains. Emerging success stories can inspire further commitments to facilitate cross-border movement, especially for business and services,” she said.
The report also sheds light on Africa’s evolving e-visa systems, noting their expansion from 24 platforms to 263 over the past year. However, inconsistencies in processes persist, ranging from straightforward digital applications to hybrid models requiring collection at entry points. Joy Kategekwa, Director of the Regional Integration Coordination Office at the AfDB, emphasized the need for mobility to unlock Africa’s economic potential. “To achieve industrialization and benefit from the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), seamless movement of people is essential—not just for skills but for access to new jobs,” she stated.
The African Union continues to advocate for the implementation of the Protocol on the Free Movement of Persons, signed in 2018 by 30 countries. The protocol envisions a phased approach to movement, encompassing the right of entry, residence, and establishment, to pave the way for a truly integrated continent.