Ghana’s Minister of Trade, Agribusiness and Industry, Hon. Elizabeth Ofosu-Agyare, has highlighted the transformative impact of the country’s visa-free policy on trade, investment, and regional integration across Africa.
This was made known during the High-Level Symposium on Advancing a Visa-Free Africa for Economic Prosperity, a side event organised by the African Union Commission’s Department of Health, Humanitarian and Social Affairs and the African Development Bank (AfDB) Group, during the 39th Summit of AU Heads of State and Government on Friday, 13 February 2026, at the Radisson Blu Hotel in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Sharing testimonials on the benefits of visa-free policies, Hon. Elizabeth Ofosu-Agyare, Minister of Trade, Agribusiness and Industry, Ghana, delivered a video message saying Ghana was the fifth African country, after Rwanda, Seychelles, The Gambia, and Benin, to implement visa-free entry for all African nationals. The landmark policy, which took effect last year, aligns with the African Union’s Agenda 2063 vision of a borderless, integrated continent.
“As the proud host of the African Continental Free Trade Area Secretariat (AfCFTA) in Accra, we recognize that the $3.4 trillion market potential of AfCFTA cannot be fully realized if businesses cannot meet face-to-face, negotiate deals, establish partnerships, and build cross-border value chains,” Minister Ofosu-Agyare said. She added that Ghana’s visa-free policy directly supports AfCFTA’s goal of increasing intra-African trade by 52% by removing barriers that impede both goods and people.
The Minister emphasized that trade depends not only on eliminating tariffs but also on enabling the free movement of people who drive commerce. Since the policy’s implementation, intra-African business travel to Ghana has increased by over 30% within two years, opening opportunities for Ghanaian exporters in agribusiness, light manufacturing, and services to explore regional markets with unprecedented ease.
“Behind these numbers are real stories of transformation,” she noted. “The elimination of visa barriers has strengthened regional collaboration, expanded investment, and reinforced Ghana’s position as a hub for African trade.”
