President John Dramani Mahama has made it clear that the recent lifting of U.S. visa restrictions on Ghanaian nationals was achieved purely through diplomatic engagement, with no financial agreement involved.
Speaking at the swearing-in ceremony of Ghana’s new Ambassadors and High Commissioners on Wednesday, October 1, President Mahama addressed growing speculation surrounding the reversal of the visa sanctions.
He confirmed that the United States’ decision to restore full visa privileges, including five-year multiple-entry B1/B2 visitor visas, was the result of negotiations focused on resolving mutual concerns—not financial compensation.
“Many of you are aware that Ghana became the only country subject to U.S. visa restrictions to secure a complete reversal from the Trump administration,” President Mahama stated. “Let me state clearly that this outcome was negotiated in Ghana’s best interest… and let me also emphasise that there was no financial consideration as part of the understanding between Ghana and the United States.”
The President highlighted that one of the key sticking points in the discussions was the issue of visa overstays, particularly among student visa holders and members of official delegations who fail to return home.
“I mean, these are people who go and instead of coming back, they decide to stay. And so they [the U.S. authorities] have the record,” he explained. “So when they draw the threshold and you’re above it, then they cancel your five-year visas and bring you to B-5, B-3.”
President Mahama urged all Ghanaians travelling abroad to respect visa conditions, warning that the actions of a few could negatively impact visa access for the broader population.
“So those of you applying for visas, please, when you go, come back, because you affect everybody else,” he said.
The visa sanctions, originally imposed in July 2025 by the Trump Administration, reduced visa validity for Ghanaians to three months and were part of broader measures targeting countries with high visa overstay rates.
The breakthrough was officially announced on September 26, by Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, who revealed that the U.S. decision was communicated during a high-level bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York. U.S.
Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs, Allison Hooker, confirmed the change, describing it as a sign of deepening Ghana–U.S. ties.
The lifting of the restrictions has been widely hailed as a diplomatic win for Ghana and a testament to the strength of its foreign policy engagements under President Mahama’s leadership.
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US reverses visa restrictions on Ghana, restores five-year multiple entry