Ghana, South Korea begin talks on Visa-Free travel for ordinary passport holders
Ghana and South Korea have initiated discussions aimed at extending visa-free travel privileges to ordinary passport holders following the signing of a new visa waiver agreement for diplomatic and service passport holders.
The development was announced by Ghana’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, after both countries signed what he described as a historic agreement on the sidelines of the Africa-Korea Foreign Ministers Meeting.
The agreement, signed on June 1, 2026, allows holders of diplomatic and service passports from Ghana and South Korea to travel between the two countries without the need for visas, marking a significant step forward in bilateral relations.
According to Mr. Ablakwa, efforts are already underway to expand the arrangement to include ordinary passport holders, a move expected to facilitate greater mobility and strengthen cooperation between the two nations.
“Negotiations will continue to bring on board holders of Ordinary Passports,” the minister stated in a social media post following the signing ceremony.
He noted that the visa waiver agreement represents a major milestone in relations between Ghana and South Korea and is the first agreement of its kind since the establishment of diplomatic ties between the two countries nearly five decades ago.
The agreement was signed by Foreign Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa on behalf of Ghana and his South Korean counterpart, Cho Hyun, during the ministerial meeting.
Attention is now focused on the ongoing negotiations regarding ordinary passport holders. If successful, the arrangement would allow a larger number of citizens from both countries to travel without visa restrictions.
Officials believe such a move could promote tourism, boost trade and investment, encourage academic and cultural exchanges, and strengthen people-to-people connections between Accra and Seoul.
The proposed expansion of the visa waiver programme is expected to build on the momentum generated by the latest agreement and deepen cooperation between Ghana and South Korea across multiple sectors.
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