The United States has removed the visa restrictions earlier imposed on Ghana following the country’s cooperation with Washington in accepting deported migrants.
Ghana was among several African countries, including Nigeria, that faced visa restrictions under President Donald Trump.
At the time, Washington explained that the move was driven by concerns over visa reciprocity.
It was gathered that Nigeria’s situation was connected to a failed agreement on the acceptance of deported migrants.
Under the restrictions, most US visas were limited to single-entry with only three months’ validity.
Yusuf Tuggar, minister of foreign affairs, disclosed that the US had pressured Nigeria to accept Venezuelan deportees, including some from prisons.
Tuggar emphasized that Nigeria would not serve as a dumping ground for deportees, especially with its already large population of over 200 million.
In September, Ghanaian President John Mahama announced that the country had started taking in West African nationals, including Nigerians deported from the US.
Mahama acknowledged that Washington had asked Ghana to accept third-party deportees and admitted the visa sanctions had strained bilateral ties.
In a X post late Friday, Samuel Ablakwa, Ghana’s minister of foreign affairs, confirmed the lifting of the sanctions.
“Ghanaians can now be eligible for five-year multiple entry visas and other enhanced consular privileges. This good news was directly communicated to me by US Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs, Allison Hooker at a bilateral meeting earlier today, in the margins of the UN General Assembly. I am really pleased that months of high-level diplomatic negotiations has led to a successful outcome,” Ablakwa said.
On Saturday, the US embassy in Ghana also confirmed the development.
“The U.S. Embassy is pleased to announce that the maximum validity periods for all categories of nonimmigrant visas for Ghanaians have been restored to their previous lengths,” the statement said.
“The maximum validity allowed for the B1/B2 visitor visa is again five years, multiple entry. The maximum validity for the F1 student visa is again four years, multiple entry.”
Meanwhile, Tuggar had earlier told TheCable in an interview that Nigeria was engaging the US to ease its own visa restrictions, though reciprocity remained an option.