Ghana has scored a diplomatic breakthrough as the United States reverses its visa restrictions on the country, restoring access to five-year multiple entry visas and expanded consular privileges for Ghanaian travelers.
Foreign Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa described the development as a “big win for Ghana,” revealing that the decision was formally communicated to him by US Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs, Allison Hooker, during a bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly.
“I am really pleased that months of high-level diplomatic negotiations has led to a successful outcome,” Ablakwa said in a statement.
The visa restrictions, introduced in July this year, limited Ghanaians to three-month single entry visas, with the US citing years of visa overstays, particularly among students, as the main reason for the measure.
With the reversal, Ablakwa said Ghana-US relations have taken “a healthier and stronger” turn. He concluded his statement with optimism: “For God and Country.”*
