When Ghana signed a visa-free travel agreement with South Africa, thousands of Ghanaians seized the opportunity.

In 2024 alone, more than 13,000 Ghanaians travelled to South Africa — a surge that boosted hotel occupancy, restaurant sales, and the Rainbow Nation’s tourism economy.

However, South Africa’s Acting High Commissioner to Ghana, Thando Dalamba, says the flow of visitors has been largely one-sided.

“The numbers show a huge spike in Ghanaians travelling to South Africa after the visa waiver. But when you look at South Africans coming to Ghana, the numbers are nowhere close. South Africans who come to Ghana are businessmen. This is a fact. Most of them are only in for business, not tourism,” he told JoyNews during a breast cancer awareness programme in Accra. “Those who do come often visit only for business or during December festivals like AfroFuture.”

A Costly Imbalance

The envoy’s concern points to a bigger issue: Ghana may be losing millions of dollars in potential tourism revenue as its citizens spend heavily abroad, while South Africans spend relatively little in Accra, Kumasi, or Cape Coast.

A Ghanaian family on a two-week trip to Johannesburg or Cape Town may spend thousands of dollars on airfare, accommodation, tours, and shopping. But the reverse flow is far weaker, with South Africans rarely considering Ghana as a holiday destination.

By the Numbers

36,600+ Ghanaians visited South Africa in 2024, making it one of the top travel destinations for Ghanaians.

Ghana’s tourism sector, however, remains strong — attracting GH¢15.42 billion from international visitors, according to the Ghana Statistical Service.

Missing the Moment

While Ghana’s government has aggressively marketed cultural festivals such as AfroFuture (formerly Afrochella) to the African diaspora, less effort has gone into attracting regional neighbours like South Africa.

“We have to partner with travel organisers from Ghana so that they come to South Africa and meet with our partners to discuss how we can bring Ghana on as a preferred travel destination for South Africans,” Mr Dalamba suggested.

Looking Ahead

Mr Dalamba believes that stronger promotion campaigns, joint tourism packages, and improved air connectivity could help balance the travel flow.

“It is just a one-way street currently. It must also include South Africans who come to Ghana,” he noted.

The challenge now, he says, is ensuring that travel between Ghana and South Africa is not just visa-free, but mutually beneficial.