Ghanaians now need a free electronic travel authorization to visit Kenya

As of June 19, 2024, Ghanaian travelers can now obtain an electronic travel authorization (ETA) to visit Kenya at no cost, as announced by Ghana’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration.

Ghanaians must apply for this authorization through etakenya.go.ke prior to departure.

This move comes in light of President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo’s earlier declaration to abolish visa requirements for all African travelers to Ghana by the end of 2024, a significant policy change he aims to implement before leaving office on January 7, 2025.

For years, the African Union (AU) has championed visa-free travel among member states, but progress has been limited, with many nations only establishing regional and bilateral visa-free agreements.

According to the African Development Bank’s Africa Visa Openness Index, only 28% of intra-Africa travel is currently visa-free. Presently, Rwanda, Benin, Seychelles, and The Gambia are the only countries offering visa-free travel to all Africans.

Kenya, which proclaimed a visa-free regime for Africans last November, has faced backlash over its new procedure requiring travelers to obtain an ETA 72 hours before travel and pay a $30 administration fee.

For decades, Ghana and Kenya have enjoyed a reciprocal visa-free agreement, allowing citizens to travel without visas or permits. However, since January 2024, this arrangement has changed with Kenya’s introduction of the so-called ‘visa-free’ entry policy for all foreigners, now mandating the free ETA for Ghanaian travelers.