The United States (US) has restored its B1/B2 visitor visa to the previous five-year multiple-entry for Ghanaian nationals, sparking hope for Nigerians.
The move, announced on Saturday, follows a period where Ghanaians, like Nigerians, were limited to a maximum of three-month, single-entry visas.
In a similar vein, the maximum validity for the F1 student visa has been reinstated to four years, multiple entry.
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The embassy announced the change in a post on its X (formerly Twitter) platform, stating,
“The US embassy is pleased to announce that the maximum validity periods for all categories of non-immigrant visas for Ghanaians have been restored to their previous lengths.”
Samuel Ablakwa, Ghana’s foreign minister, has credited the several months of high-level diplomatic negotiations to the swift reversal.
Announcing the development on his own X account, Ablakwa stated, “The US visa restriction imposed on Ghana has been reversed. Ghanaians can now be eligible for five-year multiple-entry visas and other enhanced consular privileges.”
He confirmed that the good news was communicated directly to him by Allison Hooker, US Secretary of State for Political Affairs, during a bilateral meeting held on the margins of the UN General Assembly.
“I am really pleased that months of high-level diplomatic negotiations have led to a successful outcome,” he added.
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Nigeria’s status unchanged
The earlier, more restrictive visa measure had also been imposed on Nigeria simultaneously in July of this year.
However, the latest announcement offers no corresponding reprieve for Nigerian citizens at this time.
The restoration of the enhanced visa privileges is being widely linked to Ghana’s recent agreement to accept African nationals deported from the United States, a potential quid pro quo in the diplomatic arena.
Reports suggest the US had been pressuring several African nations to take in deported migrants, including Venezuelan detainees previously held in US prisons.
Earlier this month, it was reported that Ghana had consented to accept West African nationals deported by the US, with 14 individuals already having arrived in the country. John Dramani Mahama, Ghana’s president, reportedly did not specify a cap on the number of deportees, justifying the decision by noting that West Africans “don’t need a visa anyway” to enter Ghana
In contrast, Yusuf Tuggar, Nigeria’s foreign minister, firmly rejected any similar demands, asserting that Nigeria would not become a dumping ground for deportees.
“It would be difficult for countries like Nigeria to accept Venezuelan prisoners into Nigeria. We have enough problems of our own; we cannot accept Venezuelan deportees to Nigeria,” Tuggar stated, citing the country’s large population.
Beyond Ghana, Rwanda is also reported to have received seven migrants deported from the US in August, weeks after finalising a deal for the transfer of up to 250 people. In July, the US also deported five individuals to Eswatini and eight others to South Sudan.
