Former Presidential Staffer under the Akufo-Addo administration, Dennis Miracles Aboagye, has weighed in on the recent changes to U.S. visa policies for Ghanaian applicants, accusing Ghana’s Foreign Affairs Ministry of triggering the response through its own actions.
In a statement shared on social media, Mr. Aboagye dismissed explanations suggesting that the U.S. government’s decision to limit most Ghanaian visa applicants to three-month single-entry visas is linked to student overstays.
According to him, the real issue is reciprocity — a diplomatic practice where countries match each other’s visa terms.
“Ignore the Government Communications Minister; he’s not being entirely truthful with the facts on the US visa sanction.
“Fact is that the U.S. government is simply responding and giving us back what we gave them. It’s called reciprocity,” he said.
Until recently, Ghana reportedly issued five-year multiple-entry visas to American citizens.
However, Mr. Aboagye claims that this policy was reversed by Ghana’s Foreign Affairs Minister, reducing it to a three-month single-entry visa — a decision which he believes prompted the U.S. to respond in kind.
He added, “It is not true that it’s because of our students who overstay.
“That’s false. There are 36 countries on the overstaying list, including Ghana, but they have not all been subjected to this new visa rule. Gabon, Senegal, Egypt, Djibouti, Liberia, and others are also on the list but remain unaffected.”
Mr. Aboagye argues that the Ministry’s recent visa changes towards U.S. nationals are the sole reason behind the restrictive shift.
He cautioned the Foreign Affairs Minister against what he described as a “macho style” of diplomacy.
“The simple advice to the Foreign Minister is to slow down on his public utterances, restore the 5-year multiple visa for U.S. citizens, and allow diplomacy to take its proper course.”
He concluded by emphasizing that effective diplomacy is about tact and emotional intelligence, not strong-arm rhetoric, stating, “Diplomacy is tact and heavy emotional intelligence — quick to hear, slow to speak, and timely action.”
The U.S. Department of State recently confirmed that the new policy affects most non-immigrant visa categories, including B-class (business and tourism) and F-1 student visas — a significant departure from the previous arrangement that allowed Ghanaian travelers multiple entries over five years.
