On the 1st of November 2023, a significant milestone in the diplomatic relations between Ghana and South Africa will take effect: the Visa Waiver Agreement. This agreement allows ordinary passport holders from both countries to stay in each other’s nations for up to 90 days within 12 months without the need for a visa. Whilst this agreement has a multitude of advantages for tourism and cultural exchange, its significance extends far beyond leisure, particularly in the realm of research, business, and networking.

In June 2023, I had the privilege to attend and present my research at the 3^rd Forensic DNA Symposium organised by DNAforAfrica, UNODC, and ICRC in Cape Town. The bureaucratic visa application process, which I compared to “going through the eye of a needle”, nearly discouraged me from attending this important conference. I was shocked to find out that, my UK and American colleagues did not need a visa to travel to South Africa. Fortunately, the conference organisers were relentless in ensuring that I attended the symposium in person. It was one of the most meaningful conferences I have ever attended as a forensic science researcher. In my post-conference reflection, I was heavily concerned about the extent to which African nations have jeopardised collaboration and networking among its professionals, scientists, and researchers with restrictive cross-border travel policies.

It was therefore an immense moment of joy to read in the news that our respective governments have now signed a visa waiver agreement for ordinary passport holders.

I believe the new development holds great promise for researchers from both countries. Researchers, scientists, and scholars from Ghana and South Africa will now find it easier to collaborate on research projects, policy development, and the exchange of knowledge. The elimination of visa requirements simplifies the process of travelling to either country, reducing bureaucratic hurdles that might have discouraged potential research partnerships.

The streamlined travel agreement will allow researchers to benefit from diverse perspectives and expertise through networking and collaborative projects, which can lead to discoveries, innovations, and solutions to some of the pressing challenges in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Both Ghana and South Africa are home to prestigious universities and research institutions, such as the University of Cape Town, University of the Witwatersrand, Stellenbosch University, University of Ghana, and Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST). The visa waiver agreement will provide an opportunity for researchers, academics, and students from both countries to access the world-class facilities provided by these institutions. I believe this will enhance and promote study abroad programmes, joint research schemes, the pursuit of higher education opportunities, and exposure to diverse multicultural academic environments.

Another significant potential impact of the visa waiver agreement is the expansion of continuous professional development opportunities across both countries. International conferences, seminars, and workshops are pivotal to our academic and professional development as researchers. These scholarly events provide a platform for knowledge exchange, networking, and exposure to the most current research and innovations. The new travel agreement will make it easier for researchers and relevant institutions to organise and attend research events in both countries, eliminating the burden of visa applications, long waiting times, and associated application fees.

In line with the AU Agenda 2063 to establish a Visa Free Africa, it is my hope that African nations will continue to implement visa waiver programmes for their citizens to promote unity and enhance tourism, cultural exchange and collaborations among professionals and researchers.