Government of Ghana responds to US Visa restrictions

The Government of Ghana, through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, has formally responded to recent changes in U.S. visa policies that affect Ghanaian citizens. The United States government has revised its reciprocity schedule, significantly reducing the validity of B1/B2 visas for Ghanaian travelers from five-year multiple-entry to three-month single-entry.

In a statement issued on Thursday, the Ministry expressed deep concern over the move, acknowledging the inconvenience it poses to Ghanaian nationals who frequently travel to the U.S. for professional, educational, medical, business, touristic, and family-related purposes.

While recognizing the sovereign right of every country to determine its visa regime, Ghana emphasized that the new U.S. restrictions depart markedly from the reciprocal visa arrangements that both nations have long upheld.

“The Ministry acknowledges the legitimate concerns of Ghanaian travellers… and expresses its firm solidarity with all those inconvenienced,” the statement read.

The Government of Ghana affirmed its ongoing commitment to maintaining and strengthening bilateral relations with the United States, pledging to work expeditiously with its longstanding partner to address and resolve the underlying concerns, which reportedly stem from issues related to visa overstays.

As part of a diplomatic initiative, the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Hon. Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, recently led a delegation of senior officials to Washington, D.C., to engage in high-level talks with U.S. counterparts. According to the Ministry, the discussions yielded significant outcomes and established a framework for future cooperation.

Ghana’s Visa Policy Toward U.S. Citizens Remains Generous

Providing context to Ghana’s current visa regime for U.S. citizens, the Ministry shared that between January 2025 and July 2025, a total of 40,648 visas were issued by Ghana’s missions in Washington, D.C. and New York. Notably, 28,626 of those were multiple-entry visas, accounting for 70.42% of all U.S. visa recipients during that period.

Ghana offers a range of multiple-entry visa durations—six months, one year, two years, three years, four years, and the maximum of five years—based on individual circumstances. Most U.S. passport holders, the Ministry added, are granted five-year multiple-entry visas, unless they request otherwise due to the limited validity of their passports.

This generous policy, the Ministry stressed, reflects Ghana’s commitment to upholding reciprocal diplomatic practices and encouraging people-to-people relations.

Looking Ahead

The Government, under the leadership of President John Dramani Mahama, has reaffirmed its dedication to nurturing positive relations with the United States. It assured citizens that every effort is being made at the highest levels to resolve the current visa policy tensions.

“Government will, at its highest levels, sustain best efforts in strengthening relations with the United States in a manner that further enhances people-to-people relations in the mutual interest of both countries,” the statement concluded.