Ghana ranked fifth most ‘visa-open’ country in Africa

Ghana has been ranked the fifth most visa-open country on the African continent by a new report published by the African Union Commission and the African Development Bank.

According to the 2019 Africa Visa Openness Index, African travellers from 18 countries require no visas to visit Ghana while nationals of some 34 African countries can be issued with a visa on arrival in the country.

The report also found that only nationals from one Africa country require a visa to visit Ghana.

Ghana rose to fifth place on the ranking after placing seventh in 2018, sixth in 2017 and 22nd in 2016.

The report credits Ghana’s rise with the government’s publicized commitment to allow Africans liberal access to the country in 2016.

“Ghana continues to champion regional integration efforts. In May 2018, the country ratified the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), having also signed up to the Single African Air Transport Market and the Free Movement of Persons Protocol,” the report said.

“Ghana was also selected to host the Secretariat for the African Continental Free Trade Area in 2019. At the same time, in line with the developments of the AfCFTA, the country’s World Bank Group’s Doing Business Index score rose in 2019, with reforms making it easier to trade across borders, as well as dealing with construction permits”.