The United States has lifted visa restrictions on Ghanaian nationals, reinstating eligibility for five-year multiple-entry visas just months after tightening consular policies, Ghana’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed Friday.
The announcement, made by Ghana’s Foreign Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa via social media, follows a series of high-level diplomatic engagements between Washington and Accra. According to Mr. Ablakwa, the policy reversal was conveyed directly by U.S. Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Allison Hooker during a bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York.
“Big win for Ghana,” Mr. Ablakwa wrote in a Facebook post. “The U.S. visa restrictions imposed on Ghana have been reversed. Ghanaians can now be eligible for five-year multiple-entry visas and other enhanced consular privileges.”
The decision marks a significant shift from July 2025, when the U.S. government—under the Trump administration—implemented tighter visa rules for Ghanaian citizens, citing concerns over visa overstays, particularly among students. At the time, Ghanaian travelers were limited to single-entry visas valid for no more than three months.
Officials in Accra say the reversal underscores improving diplomatic relations between the two countries and reflects confidence in Ghana’s efforts to address U.S. concerns about immigration compliance.
Diplomatic sources familiar with the negotiations say the restoration of longer-term visas is part of a broader reset in U.S.–Ghana relations, with both sides aiming to strengthen economic, educational, and security cooperation.
The U.S. Embassy in Accra is expected to issue formal guidance on the new visa regime in the coming days.
