Ghana has signed a visa waiver agreement with the Caribbean nation of Saint Kitts and Nevis that allows holders of ordinary passports to travel between the two countries without visas.

St. Kitts and Nevis Prime Minister Dr. Terrance Drew arrived in Ghana on March 4, 2026 for an official state visit aimed at strengthening diplomatic, cultural, and economic ties.

The two countries signed a visa-waiver agreement for ordinary passport holders, expanding an earlier arrangement that applied only to diplomatic and service passports, and marking another step in Accra’s push to broaden global mobility for its citizens.

President John Dramani Mahama described the extension of visa-free travel as a “practical and transformative step” that will deepen ties between Ghana and St. Kitts and Nevis, while fostering closer people‑to‑people connections across the Atlantic.

He also highlighted accompanying bilateral agreements covering labour cooperation and political consultations between the two governments.

Ghana’s Foreign Minister, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has made visa liberalisation a cornerstone of the country’s foreign policy, aiming to boost tourism, trade, and cultural exchange across regions.

The St. Kitts and Nevis deal follows a string of visa waiver agreements Accra negotiated in 2025 with other countries, including Antigua and Barbuda signed on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly.

Ghana’s visa waiver with Antigua and Barbuda was the country’s 10th such agreement since 2025, reflecting a deliberate strategy to strengthen the Ghanaian passport’s value and international mobility.

Accelerating visa-free access worldwide

Prime Minister Drew, who also chairs the 15-member Caribbean Community (CARICOM), said he hopes his visit to Ghana will strengthen ties between the Caribbean and West Africa.

Welcoming the signing of a visa-free access agreement for ordinary passport holders, Drew said the move would deepen people-to-people connections between the regions.

“And that is why I welcome today the signing of the MOU for visa-free access for ordinary citizens or citizens who own ordinary passports… this will connect us tremendously,” he said.

Drew also highlighted labour cooperation, noting that Ghana has a surplus of healthcare professionals while the Caribbean faces shortages.

“Isn’t it good that you have these well-trained health professionals here in Ghana, and we have a scarcity of healthcare professionals?” he said.

The agreement aligns with Ghana’s broader push to expand visa-free travel. In mid-2025, Parliament approved visa waivers with São Tomé and Príncipe, Colombia, Dominica, and Mozambique, among others.

As a result, Ghanaian passport holders can now access around 50 countries visa-free or with simplified entry, strengthening the country’s diplomatic reach and ties with the diaspora. (Business Insider Africa)

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