Visa applications to Ghana will now be handled in five working days instead of the previous average of four to six weeks, Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa has said.
The new policy takes effect immediately as it forms part of President Mahama’s administration efforts to position Ghana as the top travel and investment destination.
“We have put in place adequate measures at our diplomatic missions to drastically cut down the visa processing time from the troubling average of 4 to 6 weeks to our new 5-day directive,” the Minister stated in a Facebook post on May 21, 2025.
“This new visa policy takes immediate effect.”
According to the Minister, systems have already been deployed across Ghana’s diplomatic missions worldwide to ensure smooth and efficient implementation of the expedited regime.
The move follows President John Dramani Mahama’s inaugural pledge on January 7, 2025, that “Ghana is open for business.”
The Foreign Minister noted that this policy offers practical meaning through expedited consular facilitation to fully achieve the President’s vision.
“As Foreign Minister, I am committed to positioning Ghana as the preferred destination for investors and tourists by making the country more competitive and eliminating red tape,” Mr. Ablakwa said.
However, Ablakwa quikly clarified that the expedited timeline does not guarantee visa approval within five working days.
“Ghana is truly open for business,” Mr Okudzeto Ablakwa declared, adding, “Come enjoy the Black Star experience.”