Ghana and Russia have just recently signed a Visa Waiver Agreement covering holders of diplomatic and service passports, marking the first such agreement between the two nations since the establishment of formal bilateral relations in 1958
The agreement is expected to facilitate travelling for eligible Ghanaian and Russian officials holding diplomatic and service passports as well as strengthen official engagements between the two countries.
This epic agreement was signed during a three-day official visit to Russia by Ghana’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Hon. Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, at the invitation of his Russian counterpart, Sergey Lavrov.
Hon. Ablakwa announced the agreement in a Facebook post on Monday, August 17, 2026, describing it as “historic”.
“On my first day of this important official visit, we signed a historic Visa Waiver Agreement for holders of Diplomatic and Service Passports,” he said.
The Minister said that Ghana and Russia would continue negotiations on expanded visa privileges for other categories of travellers as both countries seek to strengthen trade, investment and people-to-people exchanges. “This is the first Visa Waiver Agreement since our two nations established formal bilateral relations in 1958,” Hon. Ablakwa said.
The agreement forms part of broader efforts to deepen bilateral relations between Ghana and Russia, with the official visit expected to identify additional areas of strategic cooperation.
During the bilateral talks held in Russia, Mr. Ablakwa also expressed Ghana’s appreciation to Russia for supporting and voting for a Ghana-led United Nations resolution declaring the transatlantic enslavement and racialized chattel as the gravest crime against humanity.
Ghana’s Foreign Affairs Minister says the visit would provide an opportunity for Ghana and Russia to map out broader areas of strategic cooperation.
The History of Ghana – Russia Bilateral Relations
Ghana and Russia have had formal bilateral and diplomatic relations for 68 years, starting on January 14, 1958, when ties were first established between Ghana and the former Soviet Union (USSR).
Established shortly after Ghana gained independence on March 6, 1957, The Soviet embassy opened in Accra in 1959, and Ghana’s embassy opened in Moscow in 1960.
In August 1960, Ghana and Russia (the USSR) signed the first major Agreement on Economic, Technical, and Cultural Cooperation. And in 1961 both nations signed the first official 5-year trade agreement between the USSR and Ghana. And then later in July 2007 signed a protocol on regular political and ministerial consultations between their respective foreign ministries.
Additional Sources: Al Jazeera, Citi News
