Ghana and the Republic of Korea signed a visa waiver agreement on June 1, 2026 — the first such deal in the nearly fifty years of bilateral relations between the two countries. Under the agreement, holders of diplomatic and service passports can travel between Accra and Seoul without prior visas. Foreign Ministers Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa and Cho Tae-yul signed the deal during the 2026 Korea-Africa Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Seoul. The Ghanaian side said negotiations will continue with the aim of extending visa-free travel to ordinary passport holders, building on a state visit to Korea by President John Dramani Mahama in March.
What was signed, and when
Foreign Ministers Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa and Cho Tae-yul signed the visa waiver agreement on June 1, 2026 at the 2026 Korea-Africa Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Seoul. It is the first such deal between Ghana and South Korea in nearly fifty years of formal diplomatic relations.
Who is covered
The waiver covers holders of diplomatic and service passports — that is, government officials and public-service representatives travelling on official passports. Ordinary passports are not yet included.
The next step — ordinary passports
The Ghanaian side said negotiations will continue with the aim of extending visa-free travel to ordinary passport holders. The expansion would benefit business, education and family travel between the two countries.
How the deal came together
The agreement follows a state visit to Korea by President John Dramani Mahama in March 2026. Ghana's ambassador described the visit as planting the seed of deeper cooperation between Accra and Seoul that produced this waiver.
Strategic significance
The deal eases official travel between the two governments and lowers a friction point in trade and education partnerships. Ghana is positioning the waiver as a milestone in its outreach to East Asia.
Mentioned in this story
Signed the visa waiver agreement in Seoul on June 1, 2026.
Counter-signatory to the waiver agreement.
State visit to Korea in March 2026 set the stage for the waiver.
Venue at which the waiver was signed.
Nearly fifty years old; this is the first visa waiver between the two countries.