Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa has announced that Ghana has been exempted from the latest round of United States visa restrictions unveiled on Tuesday, December 16.
The Donald Trump administration announced plans to expand travel and visa restrictions to an additional 20 countries, as well as the Palestinian Authority, effectively doubling the number of nations affected by sweeping limitations introduced earlier this year on entry and immigration into the United States.
Addressing a farewell parade for Ghana Army Engineers deployed to Jamaica to support post-disaster reconstruction efforts on Wednesday, December 17, Mr Ablakwa said Ghana’s exclusion from the restrictions reflects the strong diplomatic relationship between Accra and Washington.
“Last night, in the latest round of US visa restrictions, which affected almost all our neighbours, President Trump once again exempted our brother country, the Republic of Ghana,” he said.
He added, “We are grateful to President Mahama for leading our foreign policy efforts.”
Under the expanded measures, President Donald Trump has ordered a full travel ban on nationals of five additional countries—Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, South Sudan and Syria—as well as individuals travelling on Palestinian Authority-issued documents. The White House said the restrictions are aimed at protecting the security of the United States and will take effect from January 1.
The administration has also elevated Laos and Sierra Leone from partial restrictions to the full ban list, while imposing partial restrictions on 15 other countries, including Nigeria, Tanzania and Zimbabwe.
President Trump, who has intensified immigration controls since returning to the White House in January, said the decision was informed by what his administration described as deficiencies in screening and vetting systems in the affected countries.
US officials cited concerns such as high visa overstay rates, unreliable civil documentation, corruption, terrorist activity and poor cooperation in the acceptance of deported nationals as justification for the expanded travel ban.
