By Enyichukwu Enemanna
Ghana and Russia have signed a Visa Waiver Agreement covering holders of diplomatic and service passports, marking the first of such agreement between the two countries since the establishment of formal bilateral relations in 1958.Ghana Comprehensive News
The agreement is expected to facilitate travel for eligible Ghanaian and Russian officials holding diplomatic and service passports and strengthen official engagements between the two countries.
The agreement was signed during a three-day official visit to Russia by Ghana’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, at the invitation of his Russian counterpart, Sergey Lavrov.
Ablakwa announced the agreement in a Facebook post on Monday, August 17, 2026, describing it as “historic”.
“On my first day of this important official visit, we signed a historic Visa Waiver Agreement for holders of Diplomatic and Service Passports,” he said.
The Minister said Ghana and Russia would continue negotiations on expanded visa privileges for other categories of travellers as both countries seek to strengthen trade, investment and people-to-people exchanges.
“This is the first Visa Waiver Agreement since our two nations established formal bilateral relations in 1958,” Mr Ablakwa said.
The agreement forms part of broader efforts to deepen bilateral relations between Ghana and Russia, with the official visit expected to identify additional areas of strategic cooperation.
During bilateral talks, Ablakwa also expressed Ghana’s appreciation to Russia for supporting and voting for a Ghana-led United Nations resolution declaring the transatlantic enslavement and racialised chattel as the gravest crime against humanity.Ghana Comprehensive News
The Foreign Affairs Minister said the visit would provide an opportunity for Ghana and Russia to map out broader areas of strategic cooperation.
