Ghana and Russia Sign Visa Waiver Agreement for Diplomatic and Service Passport Holders
Ghana and Russia have signed a visa waiver agreement for holders of diplomatic and service passports, in what the two countries say is a first step towards deepening bilateral relations.
The agreement was signed on Monday, 17th August 2026, at the start of 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.
It is the first visa waiver agreement of its kind between Ghana and Russia since the two countries established formal diplomatic relations on 14 January 1958.
The agreement is expected to pave the way for discussions on extending visa privileges to other categories of travellers as Ghana and Russia seek to strengthen trade, investment and people-to-people exchanges.
During bilateral talks, Mr Ablakwa and Mr Lavrov also discussed a range of areas of mutual interest, including education, energy, agriculture, security and defence, and mineral exploration.
The two ministers expressed a shared desire to use the official visit to open broader discussions on issues of strategic importance to both countries.
Speaking at a press briefing, Mr Ablakwa said the Ghanaian government appreciated Russia’s cooperation and support as Ghana pursues industrialisation and seeks to create more jobs.
The visa agreement marks an early outcome of the visit and could provide a basis for further negotiations aimed at making travel and engagement between the two countries easier for a wider range of people.
