Ghana and Saint Kitts and Nevis have signed a landmark visa exemption agreement that allows holders of ordinary passports from both countries to travel without visas, marking a significant step toward strengthening diplomatic and economic ties. The agreement was signed on March 4 at Jubilee House in Accra by John Dramani Mahama and Terrance Michael Drew during Drew’s four-day state visit to Ghana. The new arrangement replaces a 2018 agreement that previously applied only to diplomatic and service passport holders. Under the expanded deal, citizens from both nations will be able to travel more freely for tourism, business and cultural exchange, a move both leaders say will boost economic cooperation and deepen people-to-people relations.
Alongside the visa waiver, the two countries also signed a bilateral labour agreement aimed at facilitating the recruitment of Ghanaian medical professionals to support the healthcare system in Saint Kitts and Nevis. The Caribbean nation, like many small island states, faces shortages of skilled healthcare workers. President Mahama described the agreement as a transformative step that could expand opportunities for Ghanaian professionals abroad while helping to meet workforce demands in the Caribbean. He added that discussions are underway to broaden labour mobility programmes that could include Ghanaian nurses, teachers and technical experts.
Both governments also identified several sectors for future collaboration, including tourism development, climate-resilient agriculture, renewable energy, the blue economy, heritage promotion and cultural industries. The partnerships are expected to strengthen South-South cooperation and encourage investment and knowledge exchange between West Africa and the Caribbean. Officials say the agreements reflect a growing commitment by both countries to deepen diplomatic relations and unlock new economic opportunities for their citizens.
