Ghana and Russia have signed a Visa Waiver Agreement allowing holders of diplomatic and service passports from both countries to travel between Ghana and Russia without obtaining visas.
The agreement was signed in Moscow during a three-day official visit by Ghana’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, following an invitation from his Russian counterpart, Sergey Lavrov.
Describing the agreement as historic, Ablakwa noted that it is the first visa waiver arrangement between Ghana and Russia since the two countries established formal diplomatic relations in 1958.
The agreement is expected to ease official travel and strengthen government-to-government engagements between Accra and Moscow, while supporting broader cooperation between the two countries.
However, the waiver does not apply to ordinary passport holders. Ghana and Russia are expected to continue negotiations on expanded visa privileges for other categories of travellers as both countries seek to deepen trade, investment and people-to-people exchanges.
The agreement forms part of Ghana’s broader diplomatic engagements with Russia, with the ongoing official visit also expected to explore additional areas of strategic cooperation between the two countries.