The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has noted that Ghana was named as part of the visa ban watchlist by the United States because of student overstays.
According to him, the post by the Washington Post that mentioned Ghana and some 19 other African countries as part of a visa ban by President Trump has been officially communicated to Ghana.
He said the communication noted that various countries are on the watchlist due to various reasons, including terrorism financing, but Ghana’s is due to visa overstays, especially by students.
The minister’s comments follow a Washington Post report suggesting that the U.S. government may be preparing a second wave of travel bans, similar to those introduced during President Trump’s first term. While 19 countries were affected then, the new list reportedly includes 36 nations.
Speaking during a press briefing on June 26, 2025, Ablakwa said, “They have officially informed us of the ban; it’s no longer a leaked document. It is official.”
Ablakwa stressed that Ghana is proactively engaging U.S. authorities to protect its citizens and avoid potential visa sanctions.
“We’ve had very productive meetings this week with officials from the State Department and the White House, and we are optimistic. Ghana has long-standing, warm, and strategic ties with the United States, ties we believe will be taken into account.”
“We are not taking this lightly. The engagements are ongoing, and we are confident that Ghana will not be treated like countries facing serious national security red flags. Our cooperation has been consistent, and we remain a responsible partner to the United States,” he assured.
SSD/KA
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