Ghana and Russia have signed a visa waiver agreement covering holders of diplomatic and service passports, marking a significant development in bilateral relations between the two countries.
The agreement was signed on Monday, August 17, 2026, at the beginning 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.
According to Ghana’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the agreement is the first of its kind between Ghana and Russia since the two countries established formal diplomatic relations on January 14, 1958.
The Ministry described the agreement as an important first step towards negotiations for enhanced travel privileges for other categories of travellers, as Ghana and Russia seek to deepen cooperation in trade, investment and people-to-people exchanges.
During the bilateral discussions, the two foreign ministers also explored opportunities for broader cooperation in areas including education, energy, agriculture, security and defence, and minerals exploration.
Minister Ablakwa expressed the Ghanaian government’s appreciation for Russia’s cooperation and support for Ghana’s industrialisation and job-creation efforts.
The development is expected to facilitate official travel between the two countries for eligible diplomatic and service passport holders while strengthening Ghana-Russia diplomatic engagement.
The agreement also signals Ghana’s interest in expanding its relationship with Russia beyond diplomatic ties into strategic sectors that could contribute to economic development and increased bilateral cooperation.
