ST. JOHN’S, Antigua, CMC – The Antigua and Barbuda government has signed three separate visa waiver agreements with African countries, amid efforts by the wider Caribbean Community (CARICOM) to foster closer cooperation with the African continent.
Foreign Affairs Minister E.P. Chet Greene, who signed the agreements with Ghana, Kenya, and Benin on the margins of the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly(UNGA) in New York, noted the shared history and common purpose between the Caribbean and Africa.
“These agreements symbolise our commitment to building bridges across the Atlantic, fostering stronger partnerships, and ensuring that our peoples benefit from greater mobility, opportunity, and shared prosperity,” Greene stated.
Regional governments have since reaffirmed their commitment to continue building a robust framework for cooperation in multilateral fora, and to work collectively to advance the interests of developing countries, particularly those of small states and the wider Global South.
Greene said that the agreements are also expected to unlock opportunities for collaboration across trade, investment, education, and culture.
The agreements were signed by Ghana’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Samuel Ablawka, the Cabinet Secretary for Foreign Affairs of Kenya, Dr. Musalia Mudavadi, and the Benin Minister of Foreign Affairs, Olushegun Adjadi Bakar.
A government statement said the agreements mark an important milestone in strengthening the partnership between the Caribbean and Africa, rooted in shared history, cultural ties, and common aspirations for sustainable development.
“By facilitating easier travel, the visa waivers will deepen bonds between Antigua and Barbuda and its African partners, opening new pathways for expanded cultural, social, economic, and trade exchange,” it added.
Greene also extended a formal invitation to Ghana, Kenya, and Benin to participate in the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM), which Antigua and Barbuda will host in 2026.
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