The United States Embassy in Ghana has officially lifted the visa restrictions previously placed on Ghanaians, restoring the five year multiple entry validity for B1/B2 visitor visas. This comes just months after Washington reduced Ghanaian visas to a restrictive three-month single-entry period.
According to the Embassys statement shared via its official X handle on Saturday, the maximum validity for all nonimmigrant visas has now been restored. The B1/B2 visitor visa is back to five years, while the F1 student visa has been reinstated to a four-year multiple-entry duration.
The U.S. Embassy is pleased to announce that the maximum validity periods for all categories of nonimmigrant visas for Ghanaians have been restored to their previous lengths,” the statement read.
Ghana Foreign Minister Reacts
Reacting to the development, Ghana’s Foreign Minister Samuel Ablakwa described the policy reversal as the result of sustained diplomatic engagement.
“The U.S. visa restriction imposed on Ghana has been reversed. Ghanaians can now be eligible for five-year multiple-entry visas and other enhanced consular privileges,” Ablakwa said in a post on X.
He further explained that the breakthrough came after high-level discussions with U.S. Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs, Allison Hooker, during a bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York.
What Changed Behind the Scenes?
The restoration of visa privileges is being linked to Ghana’s recent cooperation with the U.S. in accepting deportees.
Earlier this month, Reuters reported that Ghana had agreed to take in deported West African nationals from the United States.
So far, at least 14 deportees have already arrived in the country.
Ghana’s President, John Dramani Mahama, justified the move by saying West Africans “don’t need a visa anyway” to enter Ghana.
By contrast, Nigeria’s Foreign Minister, Yusuf Tuggar, has openly rejected U.S. pressure to accept deportees, stating that Nigeria would not serve as a “dumping ground” for Venezuelan prisoners or other detainees.
Wider U.S.–Africa Visa Politics
Ghana is not the only African nation involved in U.S. deportation arrangements:
Rwanda accepted seven deportees in August under an agreement allowing the transfer of up to 250 people.
In July, the U.S. also deported individuals to Eswatini (5 people) and South Sudan (8 people).
These arrangements appear to be part of a broader U.S. strategy to secure cooperation on immigration enforcement in exchange for easing consular restrictions.
No Reprieve Yet for Nigeria
While Ghanaians celebrate the restoration of their visa privileges, Nigerians remain under the same restrictive policy first announced in July 2025. At present, Nigerians are still limited to short-term, single-entry visas with no clear timeline for reversal.
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Key Takeaway
The U.S. decision to restore Ghana’s five-year multiple entry visa validity marks a major diplomatic win for Accra. It underscores the importance of international cooperation in shaping immigration policies and highlights the complex negotiations happening behind the scenes between Washington and African nations.
For Ghanaians, this is a welcome development that will make travel, education, and business much easier. For Nigerians, however, the wait for similar relief continues.
Kolade Kayode, known as Mr. KK, I am a Nigerian education blogger and founder of MasterWAEC.com. Passionate about student success, I simplifies WAEC exam preparation with accurate tips and resources to help students excel.