Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa says Ghana and Russia have signed a Visa Waiver Agreement for holders of diplomatic and service passports. Mr Ablakwa described the development as the first such agreement since the two countries established formal bilateral relations in 1958. 

Mr Ablakwa made the announcement in a Facebook post on Monday, August 17, 2026, during his three-day official visit to Russia at the invitation of Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. 

“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.

“This is the first Visa Waiver Agreement since our two nations established formal bilateral relations in 1958.”

Mr Ablakwa said Ghana and Russia would continue negotiations for enhanced visa privileges for other categories of travellers as the two countries seek to strengthen trade, investment and people-to-people exchanges.

During bilateral talks, he also expressed Ghana’s appreciation to Russia for supporting and voting for the Ghana-led United Nations resolution declaring the transatlantic enslavement and racialised chattel as the gravest crime against humanity.

“This official visit will map out broader areas of strategic cooperation between Ghana and Russia,” he said.

The agreement specifically covers diplomatic and service passport holders and does not constitute a general visa-free arrangement for ordinary passport holders. Negotiations on broader travel privileges are expected to continue.