Ghana has announced a major diplomatic success after the United States decided to lift the restrictions it had imposed earlier this year on visas for its citizens — a move described as a sign of improving relations between Accra and Washington.
Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration Minister, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, revealed that Ghanaians are once again eligible to obtain multiple-entry visas valid for five years, along with other consular benefits.
He explained that the decision was formally communicated during a bilateral meeting with U.S. Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs, Allison Hooker, on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York.
Ablakwa expressed his satisfaction, saying: “Months of high-level diplomatic negotiations have yielded a successful outcome,” describing the development as “a major victory for Ghana.”
Washington had imposed restrictions last July on visas for several countries, including Ghana, limiting its citizens to single-entry visas of no more than three months. The U.S. administration attributed the move to the high number of overstays, particularly among Ghanaian students.
Observers see the reversal of these restrictions as reflecting a mutual desire to restore warmth to bilateral ties, especially after a period of tension. The Ghanaian minister confirmed that the step represents “a clear signal of healthier and stronger relations between Ghana and the United States.”