The Government of Ghana has announced a landmark visa waiver agreement between Ghana and Zambia, allowing citizens of both countries to travel between the two nations without the requirement of visas.
The development was disclosed by the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, during President John Dramani Mahama’s three-day state visit to Zambia, a visit aimed at strengthening diplomatic, economic, and people-to-people relations between the two African countries.
President Mahama arrived in Zambia on Wednesday, February 4, to a warm reception at the Kenneth Kaunda International Airport, where he was received by his Zambian counterpart, President Hakainde Hichilema.
Addressing members of the press on the sidelines of the visit, Mr. Ablakwa disclosed that the free visa arrangement was one of the most significant outcomes of the trip and a central component of the discussions held between the two governments.
According to the Foreign Affairs Minister, easing travel restrictions between the two countries is expected to enhance trade, tourism, investment, and cultural exchange.
“We have also ensured that as a ministry, we are prioritising your smooth mobility and one of the major outcomes of this state visit, which you will hear President [John Dramani] Mahama talk about, is that for the first time in the history of Ghana-Zambia relations, we are going to have a free visa between our two countries so you no longer have to stress about visas.
“So we are going to have a visa waiver agreement. And it is one of the conditions that President Mahama gave us for this visit. He said, Foreign Minister, if you don’t make this happen, don’t join me on this visit.”
Providing further insight into the negotiations leading to the agreement, the Foreign Affairs Minister disclosed that the visa-free arrangement was a key directive personally issued by President Mahama ahead of the visit.
The visa-free policy is expected to remove long-standing bureaucratic barriers faced by Ghanaian and Zambian travelers, including students, business people, tourists, and professionals, thereby fostering closer ties and increased mobility between the two nations.
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