JUST IN: US Lifts Visa Restrictions On Ghana After Deportee Agreement
The Government of Ghana has confirmed that the United States has lifted visa restrictions previously imposed on Ghanaian citizens, opening the door for more flexible travel opportunities.
The announcement was made on Friday by Ghana’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Samuel Ablakwa, who revealed that Ghanaians are now eligible to apply for five-year multiple-entry visas, along with other enhanced consular benefits.
Ablakwa disclosed the development in a post on X (formerly Twitter), attributing the breakthrough to months of sustained diplomatic negotiations.
“The U.S. visa restriction imposed on Ghana has been reversed. Ghanaians can now be eligible for five-year multiple-entry visas and other enhanced consular privileges,” he wrote.
“This good news was directly communicated to me by U.S. Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs, Allison Hooker, during a bilateral meeting earlier today on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly. I am truly delighted that months of high-level diplomatic engagement have led to this successful outcome.”
The policy shift follows Ghana’s recent decision to accept deported migrants from the U.S. and other West African countries, a move seen as pivotal in resolving a longstanding dispute between Washington and Accra.
However, the U.S. government has yet to officially confirm or provide details on the policy reversal.
In July, Washington had introduced sweeping restrictions on non-immigrant visas for citizens of Ghana, Nigeria, Cameroon, and Ethiopia, reducing their validity to single-entry visas of just three months. Previously, applicants from these countries could obtain two-year or five-year multiple-entry visas.
At the time, the U.S. State Department described the measures as part of a global visa reciprocity process, aimed at ensuring fair treatment of American citizens abroad and addressing concerns about visa overstays.
The lifting of restrictions marks a major diplomatic win for Ghana, and a significant relief for its citizens who frequently travel to the United States for business, education, and family visits.
