US restores five-year multiple entry Visas for Ghanaians after deportation deal

The United States has lifted visa restrictions on Ghana following an agreement that saw the West African nation cooperate with Washington on the acceptance of deported migrants.

Ghana was among several African countries, including Nigeria, affected by the restrictions introduced during the administration of former US President Donald Trump. At the time, visas were limited to single entry with a three-month validity period, a move Washington linked to concerns over visa reciprocity.

In September, Ghanaian President John Mahama disclosed that his country had begun receiving deported West African nationals, including Nigerians, from the US. He acknowledged that Washington had requested Ghana to accept third-party deportees and admitted the restrictions had strained bilateral relations.

The breakthrough was confirmed by Ghana’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Samuel Ablakwa, who announced on Friday via X that the US had lifted the sanctions. He said the decision followed months of high-level diplomatic negotiations, with the development communicated directly by US Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs, Allison Hooker, during a bilateral meeting at the UN General Assembly.

“Ghanaians can now be eligible for five-year multiple entry visas and other enhanced consular privileges. This is a significant diplomatic achievement,” Ablakwa said.

The US Embassy in Ghana confirmed the restoration of visa validity, stating that the maximum periods for all nonimmigrant visa categories had been returned to their original lengths. Visitor (B1/B2) visas will once again carry a five-year multiple entry validity, while student (F1) visas will be valid for four years, multiple entry.

Nigeria, which was also hit by the restrictions, has yet to secure a similar resolution. Foreign Affairs Minister Yusuf Tuggar recently told TheCable that Abuja was working to ease the sanctions but stressed that reciprocity remained on the table.