President John Mahama on Wednesday cautioned Ghanaians against overstaying their visas abroad, emphasizing that individual noncompliance threatens to undermine recent diplomatic gains—most notably, the lifting of U.S. visa restrictions on Ghana.
Speaking at the Jubilee House during a ceremony to commission newly appointed Ambassadors and High Commissioners, Mahama said the U.S. decision to reverse the visa sanctions was the result of protracted, high-level negotiations that included Ghana’s commitment to address the issue of overstayers, particularly among student and official government travelers.
“Ghana became the only country under Trump-era visa sanctions to secure a complete reversal,” Mahama noted. “One of the key concessions was our pledge to confront the problem of overstayers.”
The U.S. had previously cited high rates of visa overstays, especially among Ghanaian students, in its July decision to limit Ghanaian travelers to single-entry, three-month visas. That policy has now been rescinded.
Earlier this week, Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa confirmed that the U.S. will resume issuing five-year, multiple-entry visas to Ghanaian citizens, along with other expanded consular privileges.
“There was no financial consideration in our agreement with the United States,” Mahama clarified, likely addressing speculation about concessions beyond immigration compliance. “This was about restoring trust and responsibility.”
The president appealed directly to prospective travelers: “When you go, come back. Because if you don’t, you affect everybody else.”
Mahama’s remarks come as Ghana seeks to fortify international partnerships and restore its reputation among Western diplomatic circles following years of scrutiny over immigration compliance.
