THE AFRICAN COURIER. Reporting Africa and its Diaspora! The African Courier is an international magazine published in Germany to report on Africa and the Diaspora African experience. The first issue of the bimonthly magazine appeared on the newsstands on 15 February 1998. The African Courier is a communication forum for European-African political, economic and cultural exchanges, and a voice for Africa in Europe.
Ghana has launched a new electronic visa regime aimed at modernising travel procedures, strengthening border security and promoting easier access to the country, in a move being described as a major step in its digital transformation agenda.
Launching the new system in Accra on 25 May, President John Dramani Mahama confirmed that Ghana’s previous visa-on-arrival arrangement for African passport holders had been discontinued and replaced by the e-Visa platform.
“The previous visa-on-arrival arrangement for African passports, which I initiated during my previous term as president, is hereby discontinued and replaced by this more secure and efficient electronic visa regime,” Mahama said during the official launch ceremony in Accra.
Under the new arrangement, travellers who require visas must now apply online before departure, allowing immigration authorities to conduct advance vetting and due diligence checks. African nationals are exempted from paying visa fees under the new policy, but they are still required to apply for the electronic visa before travelling.
However, citizens of Economic Community of West African States member states, as well as nationals of countries that already have reciprocal visa-waiver agreements with Ghana, will continue to enjoy visa-free entry without needing to apply for an e-visa. This also applies to several Caribbean and other countries with bilateral visa exemption arrangements.
The government says the new platform is designed to combine easier travel access with stronger migration management and improved border control systems.
The introduction of the e-Visa places Ghana among a growing number of African countries, including Rwanda, Kenya, Benin and Seychelles, that have adopted digital visa systems to promote mobility and regional integration.
While the initiative has been widely welcomed, concerns have already emerged about the cost of Ghanaian visas for non-African travellers. Current charges reportedly stand at around $260 for a single-entry visa and $468 for multiple-entry visas for some nationalities, significantly higher than competing destinations such as Rwanda and Kenya.
For perspective, here is how Ghana’s visa fees compare with peer destinations for US travellers:
| Country | Visa Type | Cost ( USD ) |
| Ghana | Single entry | $260 |
| Senegal | Exempt | 0 |
| Rwanda | Tourist Visa | $30 |
| Kenya | Tourist visa | $59 |
| Ghana | Multiple entry | $468 |
Akwasi Agyeman, former CEO of the Ghana Tourism Authority and current head of AfCHAT, praised the digital innovation but warned that high fees could undermine Ghana’s tourism ambitions. He pointed to the success of the 2019 “Year of Return” campaign, when relaxed visa measures contributed to record international arrivals exceeding 1.1 million visitors.
Tourism experts argue that lower visa costs could generate greater long-term economic benefits through increased spending on airlines, hotels, restaurants, transport and cultural industries.
For many observers, Ghana’s e-Visa launch represents both a technological and symbolic milestone. But whether the reform succeeds in boosting tourism and Pan-African mobility may ultimately depend not only on convenience and security—but also on affordability.
Adira Kallo
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