Why Ghana has introduced e-Visa for African business travellers

Ghana has rolled out an electronic visa system for African business travellers, replacing its previous visa-on-arrival arrangement in a move the government says will streamline immigration processes and strengthen border security across the country's international entry points.

The shift to e-Visa — which allows applicants to complete documentation online before travel — follows a broader push by several African nations to modernise immigration infrastructure as the continent advances toward targets set under the African Continental Free Trade Area agreement, which is headquartered in Accra.

Under the new system, travellers from AU member states seeking entry for business purposes can apply through Ghana's official immigration portal, submit required documents, and receive digital approval ahead of arrival. Officials say the change is intended to reduce congestion at Kotoka International Airport and cut processing times that previously frustrated transit passengers and repeat visitors.

For Kenya, whose business community maintains strong trade ties with West Africa — particularly in agriculture, technology, and financial services — the development carries practical relevance. Kenyan exporters and entrepreneurs who regularly travel to Ghana for trade fairs and bilateral meetings have long cited immigration friction as a barrier to doing business across the region.

Kenya itself operates one of Africa's more advanced e-Visa platforms, processing thousands of applications monthly through its eCitizen system, a model other African governments have studied and partly replicated.

Ghana's immigration service says the new system will also improve data collection on business travellers, enabling more precise policy planning. Officials indicated that whether the e-Visa framework will be extended to cover tourism and other travel categories remains under review, with further consultations expected before any expansion is announced.