Ghana has been ranked 5th on the 2024 Africa Visa Openness Index (AVOI), highlighting its efforts to ease travel across the continent.

The report, released by the African Union Commission in collaboration with the African Development Bank (AfDB), evaluates the ease with which travelers can obtain visas to enter African countries. A higher ranking indicates more relaxed or liberal visa policies, which may allow visitors to enter without a visa or obtain one upon arrival.

With a score of 0.868, Ghana is positioned just behind the top four countries—Benin, Seychelles, Gambia, and Rwanda—all ranked number 1 on the index. These countries have demonstrated a strong commitment to visa openness, making travel easier for visitors.

The 2024 edition of the index revealed positive changes, with 17 African countries improving their AVOI scores, following 15 countries that saw improvements last year. However, the report also notes challenges, as 8 countries’ scores declined and many Africans continue to face significant visa obstacles when traveling within the continent. This hampers opportunities for both tourists and professionals, particularly entrepreneurs seeking to expand their networks.

Nnenna Lily Nwabufo, Vice President of Regional Development, Integration, and Business Delivery at the AfDB, commended the progress, noting that visa openness in Africa is at its highest level since tracking began in 2016. She stated, “So far, 39 African countries have improved their scores, a testament to Africa’s shared commitment to ease travel and foster collaboration across borders.”

Despite the advances, the African Union’s Commissioner for Humanitarian Affairs, Minata Samate Cessouma, called for continued political will to address the barriers to cross-border movement. She urged countries to follow the emerging success stories, which could drive further positive momentum toward facilitating smoother travel across the continent.

Source:TheDotNews