ACCRA: Ghana’s outgoing President Nana Akufo-Addo on Friday announc­ed visa-free travel for all African passport holders from the start of this year, marking a step towards continental economic integration. The announcement came during his final state of the nation address as he prepares to step down on Jan 6 after two terms in office. “I am proud to have app­roved visa-free travel to Ghana for all African passport holders, with effect from the beginning of this year,” Akufo-Addo said in his speech to parliament. “This is the logical next step to the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and the workings of the largest trading bloc in the world,” he said. “All these are essential elements to the realisation of the AU’s agenda envisaging an integrated and connected Africa by 2063,” he added, referring to the African Union’s development blueprint for a 50-year period. Ghana joins Rwanda, Seychelles, Gambia and Benin in offering visa-free entry to African travellers. Ghana had previously allowed visa-free access to citizens of 26 African nations and visas on arrival for travellers from 25 others, while only two African countries—Eritrea and Morocco— required a visa before entry.