Award-winning investigative journalist Manasseh Azure Awuni has weighed in on the United States government’s decision to tighten visa restrictions for Ghanaian travelers, saying the situation reflects Africa’s failure to develop its own potential.
In a reflective post shared on his Facebook page, Manasseh wrote, “If we had lived our lives well, THEY should have been queuing to get visas to Africa. They’d pay anything to have our weather.”
His comment comes in the wake of new U.S. visa policies limiting most Ghanaian non-immigrant visa holders to single-entry visas valid for only three months.
The new rules mark a significant departure from the previous policy, which allowed many Ghanaians—especially business travelers, tourists, and students—to obtain multiple-entry visas valid for up to five years.
Under the revised system, frequent travelers and students will be particularly affected, as they must now reapply for visas more often, increasing both cost and administrative burden.
While the U.S. Department of State has not publicly provided a detailed explanation, policy shifts like this are often linked to immigration reciprocity, diplomatic tensions, or internal security reviews. A similar adjustment was made recently for Nigerian nationals.
Manasseh’s statement goes beyond the policy itself, touching on broader frustrations about Africa’s underutilized wealth and potential.
His message suggests that if African nations, including Ghana, had leveraged their natural resources, human capital, and governance systems effectively, they would be attracting—not chasing—foreign visitors.
The new visa rules are expected to result in longer processing times at U.S. embassies and may complicate academic plans and business travel for many Ghanaians.
