Ghana and Antigua and Barbuda have signed a bilateral visa waiver agreement aimed at strengthening diplomatic, trade, and cultural ties, officials said Wednesday.
The agreement, finalized on the sidelines of the ongoing United Nations General Assembly in New York, allows passport holders from both countries to travel without the need for a visa, marking a further step in Ghana’s efforts to expand global mobility for its citizens.
Ghana’s Minister for Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, signed the agreement on behalf of the West African nation, while Antigua and Barbuda was represented by its Minister for Foreign Affairs, Trade, and Barbuda Affairs, E.P. Chet Greene.
“This agreement reflects our deliberate efforts to enhance the Ghanaian passport, promote our image on the global stage, and deepen strategic partnerships—particularly with the Caribbean,” Mr. Ablakwa said in a statement. He credited the leadership of President John Mahama’s administration for securing what he said is the 10th visa waiver agreement under the current foreign policy agenda.
The deal is part of a broader push by Ghana’s government to open up international travel opportunities for its citizens and improve bilateral cooperation across regions. Officials in Accra view visa waivers as key instruments to stimulate trade, tourism, and people-to-people engagement—areas that have received increasing focus in Ghana’s outreach to the Caribbean.
Mr. Ablakwa highlighted the cultural significance of the agreement, calling it a bridge between “brothers and sisters in the Caribbean” and a step toward stronger Afro-Caribbean solidarity.
The two countries did not disclose when the agreement would take effect.
