Ghana and Russia Sign First Visa Waiver Agreement Since Bilateral Relations Began in 1958

Ghana and Russia have signed their first-ever visa waiver agreement, covering holders of diplomatic and service passports, a development that marks a significant shift in bilateral relations nearly seven decades after the two countries first established formal diplomatic ties. The agreement was concluded during a three-day official visit to Moscow by Ghana’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, who travelled to the Russian capital at the invitation of his Russian counterpart, Sergey Lavrov.

Ablakwa announced the signing in a Facebook post on Monday, 17 August 2026, describing it as a landmark moment in the two countries’ diplomatic history. “On my first day of this important official visit, we signed a historic Visa Waiver Agreement for holders of Diplomatic and Service Passports,” the minister wrote. He further noted that the agreement represents the first of its kind since Ghana and Russia formalised their bilateral relationship in 1958, spanning nearly seven decades of diplomatic ties without such an arrangement in place.

The waiver is expected to ease movement for Ghanaian and Russian officials travelling on diplomatic and service passports, removing bureaucratic barriers that previously applied to this category of travellers. The agreement does not extend visa-free travel to holders of ordinary passports. Beyond the agreement already concluded, Ablakwa indicated that the two governments intend to pursue further negotiations aimed at broadening visa privileges to include other categories of travellers. Both sides have identified trade, investment and people-to-people exchanges as priority areas that would benefit from improved access.

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The three-day visit to Moscow represents a significant moment in Ghana’s foreign policy under the current administration, with the country actively seeking to diversify its diplomatic and economic partnerships. The engagement forms part of efforts by the two countries to strengthen their longstanding diplomatic relations and explore new areas of mutual interest. During bilateral discussions with Russian officials, Ablakwa also conveyed Ghana’s appreciation to Russia for supporting and voting for a Ghana-led landmark United Nations resolution declaring transatlantic enslavement and racialised chattel as the gravest crime against humanity.

The agreement also comes ahead of the Third Russia-Africa Summit, scheduled for October 28 and 29, 2026, in Moscow. President John Mahama has been invited to attend the summit, and Ablakwa said Mahama hoped to hold bilateral talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin on the sidelines of the summit to discuss further areas of cooperation between Ghana and Russia. Ghana and the Soviet Union established close relations during the administration of Ghana’s first President, Dr Kwame Nkrumah, who pursued relations with countries outside the traditional Western bloc as part of his industrialisation and Pan-African policies. Education has also been an important part of the relationship, with thousands of Ghanaians having studied at Soviet and Russian universities over the years.

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