Ghana’s high-level diplomatic efforts have paid off, with the United States officially reversing the visa restrictions imposed on Ghanaian citizens ea
Ghana’s high-level diplomatic efforts have paid off, with the United States officially reversing the visa restrictions imposed on Ghanaian citizens earlier this year.
Foreign Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa announced the “big win for Ghana” today, confirming that Ghanaians are once again eligible for five-year multiple-entry visas and other enhanced consular privileges from the U.S.
The news was communicated directly to the Foreign Minister by U.S. Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs, Allison Hooker, during a bilateral meeting held on the margins of the United Nations General Assembly in New York.
“I am really pleased that months of high-level diplomatic negotiations has led to a successful outcome,” Minister Ablakwa stated in a release. He hailed the move as a sign of “healthier and stronger Ghana-USA relations.”
Restrictions lifted after 3 months
The restrictions, which the Foreign Minister noted were imposed on Ghana and other countries by the Trump Administration in July of this year, had severely limited travel for Ghanaians. The affected countries were issued a maximum of three-month single-entry visas. They faced other limitations, with the U.S. citing high rates of visa overstays, particularly by students from Ghana.
The diplomatic breakthrough comes as a significant relief to Ghanaian students, professionals, and travelers, who had faced major disruptions to their plans due to the limited visa validity and single-entry requirement.
The reversal, effective immediately, restores the previously enjoyed multiple-entry visa regime, facilitating easier and more predictable travel between the two nations.
Under Secretary Allison Hooker, who assumed her role in June 2025, is a seasoned diplomat, and the successful resolution of the visa issue marks a positive development in the bilateral relations between the U.S. and Ghana.
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