Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa dismisses claims US visa reversal is linked to deportees

Ghana’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Mr Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has dismissed claims suggesting that the recent lifting of United States visa restrictions carries a hidden agenda to turn Ghana into a destination for deportees. He emphasised that under no circumstances would Ghana become a “dumping ground for US removals” and that the government would never compromise the nation’s sovereignty or security for improved visa privileges.

Responding to what he described as “an avalanche of conspiracy theories and scaremongering” following the announcement that Ghana had secured a reversal of the July visa restrictions imposed under the Trump Administration, Mr Ablakwa clarified that while Ghana had agreed to accept a limited number of West African nationals under a pre-vetting process, the arrangement did not involve US deportees or criminals. “Ghana is not accepting criminals from the US,” he asserted.

He explained that the agreement aligns with existing ECOWAS protocols and Ghana’s Pan-African principles, noting that ECOWAS citizens already enjoy visa-free entry into Ghana. “Our mutually beneficial deal with the US Government will not undermine Ghana’s security and stability in any way,” he added.

The Minister also rejected claims that the negotiations focused solely on removals, revealing that talks under President John Dramani Mahama‘s instructions addressed broader economic issues, including a reassessment of the 15 percent tariff imposed on Ghana, the prospect of a special bilateral trade arrangement, requests from US companies seeking investment opportunities, and the future of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), which he described as crucial for Ghana’s garment and textile sector.

“The Mahama Administration deeply cares for you — we shall keep working tirelessly to protect our strategic national interest, and we shall ensure our best efforts benefit all Ghanaians,” he pledged.

The US Embassy in Accra has confirmed the reversal, announcing the resumption of five-year multiple-entry visas to eligible Ghanaians. The restrictions, introduced in July under the Trump Administration, had limited Ghanaian applicants to three-month single-entry visas due to alleged visa overstays, particularly among students. Following months of high-level negotiations led by Mr Ablakwa, Ghana became the only country affected to have full visa privileges restored.