Ghana and Russia have signed a visa waiver agreement for holders of diplomatic and service passports, marking the first agreement of its kind between the two countries since they established formal bilateral relations on January 14, 1958.
The agreement was signed on Monday, August 17, 2026, at the start of a three-day official visit to Russia by the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Hon. Samuel Okudjeto Ablakwa, at the invitation of his Russian counterpart, H.E. Sergey Lavrov.
The visa waiver deal is expected to serve as a first step towards opening negotiations for enhanced travel privileges for all categories of travellers between the two countries, as they continue to deepen trade, investment and people-to-people exchanges.
During bilateral talks held as part of the visit, the two Ministers expressed their shared desire for the visit to create an opportunity for discussions on broader areas of strategic importance between Ghana and Russia, including educational exchanges, and cooperation in energy, agriculture, security and defence, and minerals exploration, among others.
Speaking at a press briefing, Hon. Ablakwa expressed the Government of Ghana’s appreciation for Russia’s cooperation and support towards the country’s drive for industrialisation and job creation.
The visit forms part of ongoing efforts by the Ghanaian government to strengthen diplomatic and economic ties with strategic international partners.
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