By Emmanuel Nduka Obisue
Zambia and Ghana are moving closer to a visa waiver agreement as both countries intensify efforts to deepen trade, investment and broader economic cooperation. The proposed visa-free travel arrangement coincides with the State Visit of Ghanaian President John Dramani Mahama to Lusaka, aimed at strengthening bilateral ties and regional integration.
The agreement is expected to remove longstanding barriers to movement between the two countries, laying a practical foundation for increased commercial engagement, investment flows and private-sector collaboration.
President Mahama arrived in Zambia on Wednesday, at the invitation of President Hakainde Hichilema, for a three-day State Visit focused largely on economic cooperation.
Ahead of the visit, Ghana’s Foreign Minister disclosed that the visa waiver initiative was a direct presidential directive and a key condition attached to the trip. He explained that President Mahama had instructed officials to ensure the agreement was concluded before travelling, stressing the importance of free movement in promoting trade, investment and people-to-people relations.
According to the Minister, technical negotiations initially faced challenges due to differences in passport classifications. While Ghana operates diplomatic, service and ordinary passports, Zambia recognises only diplomatic and ordinary passports.
Despite early concerns from the Zambian side, Ghana’s delegation maintained that the matter had clear presidential backing.
Negotiations continued late into the night on the eve of the visit under high-level guidance. At about 11:30 p.m., Zambian officials sought final presidential approval, which was subsequently granted, paving the way for the visa waiver agreement to be finalised.
With the deal secured, Ghana has now reached its fifteenth visa waiver arrangement since President Mahama was sworn into office. The Foreign Minister described the agreement as a significant milestone that would ease travel for businesspeople, officials and citizens, while reinforcing economic cooperation between both countries.
President Mahama arrived in Lusaka accompanied by his wife, Lordina Mahama, and a senior government delegation. He was received at Kenneth Kaunda International Airport by Ghana’s High Commissioner to Zambia, Madam Elizabeth Nyantakyi, following his participation in the 2026 Global Governance Summit in Dubai.
During the visit, both Heads of State are expected to hold bilateral talks covering priority areas such as agriculture and food security, energy, mining value addition, waste management, emerging technologies and fintech. President Mahama is also scheduled to address Zambia’s National Assembly and co-chair a Zambia–Ghana Business Dialogue aimed at boosting trade and investment under the African Continental Free Trade Area framework.
The visit is regarded by Zambian authorities as a reciprocal engagement following President Hichilema’s State Visit to Ghana in July 2023 and a continuation of outcomes from the Zambia–Ghana Joint Permanent Commission held in Lusaka in October 2025.
