The Minority in Parliament has urged the Mahama administration to acknowledge former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo for initiating Ghana’s electronic visa (e-Visa) system, arguing that the project was conceived and substantially developed under the previous New Patriotic Party (NPP) government.
The demand follows the official launch of Ghana’s first e-Visa application portal by President John Dramani Mahama on Monday, May 25, 2026.
Speaking at a press conference in Parliament, the Minority accused the current administration of attempting to claim full credit for a project that had already been designed and prepared for implementation before the change in government.
According to the Minority, the Akufo-Addo administration laid the technological and policy foundation for the digital visa system as part of its broader digitalisation agenda.
Minority members argued that infrastructure development, stakeholder engagements, software integration, and policy work surrounding the e-Visa platform had already been completed before the National Democratic Congress (NDC) assumed office.
One Minority spokesperson stated that “Government must be honest with Ghanaians. The e-Visa project did not start today. This was part of the Akufo-Addo administration’s digital transformation agenda”.
They further insisted that continuity in governance must be respected regardless of political differences.
“We support the implementation of the e-Visa system because it is good for Ghana, but credit must be given where it is due,” the Minority added.
The Minority also referenced several digital reforms introduced under the previous administration, including digital address systems, online passport application processes, and immigration modernisation projects, arguing that the e-Visa platform formed part of the same long-term strategy.
Their comments come shortly after President Mahama announced the discontinuation of the visa-on-arrival regime and introduced a fully digital visa application system aimed at improving efficiency and strengthening border security.
At the launch event in Accra, President Mahama said that “The previous visa-on-arrival system is hereby discontinued and replaced with this new visa regime”.
He explained that the e-Visa platform would simplify travel procedures, improve pre-arrival screening, and modernise Ghana’s immigration management system.
The President also announced that African passport holders travelling to Ghana for business or tourism would no longer pay visa processing fees under the new arrangement.
“Effective today, all holders of African passports travelling to Ghana for business or tourism will apply for visas via the new online e-visa platform, and they will pay no visa fee,” he stated.
Government officials say the new system will allow travellers to submit applications online, upload documents electronically, make digital payments, and receive approvals remotely without visiting embassies or consulates.
The e-Visa system is also expected to integrate with advanced passenger information and border security systems to improve intelligence gathering and traveller monitoring.
Despite the political disagreement over the origins of the project, both the Minority and the government agree that the initiative represents a significant step toward modernising Ghana’s immigration and travel systems.
