US Restores Five-Year Visas for Ghanaians Amid Deportee Deal Debate

The United States has reversed its visa restrictions on Ghana, reinstating five-year multiple-entry visas for Ghanaian travelers. The restrictions, imposed in July, had limited applicants to single-entry visas of only three months, citing widespread overstays.

Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa confirmed the change after high-level talks on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly. He described the decision as a win for Ghanaian diplomacy, stressing that the government had worked tirelessly to restore travel privileges for its citizens.

The timing, however, has sparked speculation. Only days earlier, Ghana agreed to accept West African nationals deported from the U.S. under the Trump administration’s hardline immigration policy. Critics suggest the visa reversal may be linked to this deal, though the minister insists the two issues are separate.

Government officials say Ghana’s decision to receive deportees was guided by humanitarian and Pan-African principles, not by diplomatic bargaining. Still, the overlap between the two developments continues to fuel debate both at home and abroad.