Africa-Press – Ghana. Ghana has announced that all Africans and members of the global African diaspora travelling to the country for the 2025 Diaspora Summit in December will be granted visa-free entry.
Government, through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, describes it as a landmark step to reaffirm Ghana’s commitment to African unity and diaspora engagement.
Mr. Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, made the announcement at the media launch of the summit in Accra on Wednesday, saying the decision was symbolic of Ghana’s conviction that the diaspora formed an inseparable part of the country’s identity.
The December summit will bring together leaders from government, business, civil society, and the diaspora for discussions on investment, innovation, culture, and reparations.
It will be climaxed with a Diaspora Awards Gala to celebrate the extraordinary contributions of Ghanaians and people of African descent worldwide.
“When your brothers and sisters are coming home, you don’t place impediments before them. You don’t ask them for visas or subject them to fees. Once you are coming to reunite with us at the 2025 Diaspora Summit, no visas, no fees,” he declared.
Mr. Ablakwa explained that the waiver was a demonstration of sincerity and inclusivity as Ghana mobilised its diaspora to contribute to development and to strengthen cultural and historical ties.
He said the policy would apply to Africans across the continent and those in the diaspora, including communities in the Americas, Europe, and the Caribbean.
“Our message is clear: the attempt to divide us by oceans, borders, and history did not succeed. We remain one people, and we are inseparable,” the Foreign Minister said.
The Minister stressed that the summit, scheduled for December 19–20 in Accra on the theme: “Resetting Ghana: The Diaspora as the 17th Region,” would not simply be an event for socialising but a strategic platform for advancing justice, economic transformation, and the reparations agenda being championed by President John Dramani Mahama at the African Union.
According to him, one of the summit’s highlights would be a special conference on reparations, building on Ghana’s continental leadership in calling for justice for Africa’s historical exploitation.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs urged the diaspora to seize the opportunity to reconnect with Ghana and Africa, stressing that the visa-free initiative was both symbolic and practical.
“When we say our doors are open, we mean it. Ghana will always be a safe haven for Africans everywhere,” he said.
Nana Oye Bampoe Addo, Deputy Chief of Staff, who represented President Mahama at the launch, also underscored the significance of the decision to remove visa restrictions, describing it as a reaffirmation of Ghana’s role as a home for all Africans.
“The diaspora is not apart from Ghana; it is part of Ghana. Brothers and sisters abroad enrich our national fabric through their skills, innovation, and sacrifices. This summit, and indeed the visa-free entry, is a celebration of your invaluable place in our development agenda,” she said.
Ghana, she said, was working to create a safe and enabling environment for investments, assuring the diaspora community that their contributions would be welcomed and protected.
“Your investments will be safe because Ghana is your home, and we are building an environment where you and our people can thrive together,” she said.
The Deputy Chief of Staff in Charge of Administration further linked the visa-free initiative to Africa’s forthcoming “Decade of Reparations” (2026–2036), championed by President Mahama.
She said reparations were not only about addressing historical injustices but also about creating opportunities for Africans worldwide to build their own future collectively.
Mr. Kofi Okyere Darko, Director of the Diaspora Affairs Office at the Presidency, described the visa-free policy as an important step towards breaking down barriers between Ghana and its diaspora.
He said it aligned with the office’s 2025 mandate to “build bridges and break barriers,” which also includes policy initiatives such as the Diaspora Engagement Policy, residence permits for returnees, and partnerships with over 27 ministries and agencies.
For More News And Analysis About Ghana Follow Africa-Press
