File photo of flags of various countries
The prospect of travelling to dozens of countries without the hassle of visa applications may explain why some Ghanaians are allegedly willing to pay as much as US$29,000 to acquire a service passport, a government-issued travel document that offers holders visa-free access to several destinations.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has published a list of 59 countries that Ghanaian holders of service passports can travel to without obtaining a visa, offering them wider international travel access than holders of ordinary Ghanaian passports.
According to the Ministry's Ghana Passport Services portal, last updated on September 8, 2026, the visa-waiver arrangements cover countries across Africa, Europe, Asia, the Caribbean and South America.
The arrangements are, however, not the same for all categories of Ghanaian passport holders. While some countries grant visa-free access to holders of ordinary, service and diplomatic passports, others restrict the privilege to service and diplomatic passport holders.
This distinction has become particularly relevant amid public discussions surrounding the issuance and alleged misuse of Ghanaian service passports, with questions being raised about the privileges attached to the travel document.
The Ministry's published list identifies 59 destinations where service passport holders enjoy visa-free access. The permitted duration of stay varies by destination, with most allowing visits of up to 90 days.
The Names, Dates, Arrests and More: All you need to know about the passport scandal
See the full list of countries Ghanaians can visit with a service passport without a visa below:
Africa (34 countries)
1. Algeria
2. Angola
3. Benin
4. Burkina Faso
5. Côte d’Ivoire
6. Equatorial Guinea
7. Eswatini
8. Kenya
9. Lesotho
10. Liberia
11. Malawi
12. Mali
13. Mauritius
14. Mozambique
15. Morocco
16. Namibia
17. Niger
18. Nigeria
19. Rwanda
20. São Tomé and Príncipe
21. Senegal
22. Seychelles
23. Sierra Leone
24. South Africa
25. Sudan
26. Tanzania
27. Togo
28. Uganda
29. Zambia
30. Zimbabwe
31. Guinea-Bissau
32. Guinea
33. The Gambia
34. Cape Verde (Cabo Verde)
Asia and the Middle East (6 countries)
35. China
36. India
37. Iran
38. Maldives
39. Singapore
40. United Arab Emirates
Europe (4 countries)
41. Germany
42. Hungary
43. Malta
44. Serbia
The Caribbean and South America (15 countries)
45. Antigua and Barbuda
46. Bahamas
47. Barbados
48. Brazil
49. Colombia
50. Cuba
51. Dominica
52. Grenada
53. Guyana
54. Jamaica
55. Saint Kitts and Nevis
56. Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
57. Suriname
58. Trinidad and Tobago
59. Venezuela
BAI
Who Is Responsible for Stray-Bullet Injuries and Deaths?
Copyright © 1994 - 2026 GhanaWeb. All rights reserved.
