Ghanaians intending to travel to the United States (US) can now heave a sigh of relief as the Americans have reversed the visa restrictions imposed on Ghana in July this year together with other countries.
This means that visa seekers are eligible for five-year multiple entry and other enhanced consular privileges.
The news was revealed by the Minister for Foreign Affairs Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, who is in the US, as part of government delegation to the 80th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).
He said the information was communicated to him by the US Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs, Allison Hooker, during a bilateral meeting with Ghana’s delegation on the sidelines of the UNGA in New York.
The North Tongu Member of Parliament (MP) revealed in a Facebook post that, this follows months of high-level diplomatic negotiations.
The affected countries were slapped with a maximum three-month single entry visas and other limitations. In the specific case of Ghana, the Trump Administration said they were reacting to many years of visa overstays mainly by students.
“It’s good to see healthier and stronger Ghana 🇬🇭 USA 🇺🇸 relations”, he said on Saturday September 27.
But founding president of policy think tank, IMANI-Africa has asked the Minister not to celebrate just yet.
Franklin Cudjoe who has linked the deal Ghana struck with the US to accept deportee West African nationals into Ghana to the lifting of restriction said Ghana could have done better with the negotiation.
Cudjoe, who is a strong supporter of President Donald Trump and his administration said the Minister should have negotiated for better deals like a reduction in the 15 percent tariff hikes imposed on Ghana earlier this year.
In a response to Ablakwa’s earlier post, the outspoken researcher and social commentator said he wished the so called good news was not posted on the internet and celebrated.
“Frankly, my brother Honourable Okudzeto, I wish this had not been posted and celebrated. We had this already. Yes, I know the Trump administration threatened visa restrictions, but we could have negotiated for more, perhaps a good reduction of the 15% tariff imposed on Ghana,” he said.
He further argued that Ghana could have taken advantage of President Mahama’s bold speech on Gaza at the UN General Assembly on Thursday to secure better trade or economic deals, pointing out that President Trump was more inclined toward negotiations than symbolic gestures.
“Knowing that Trump is a deal maker on almost everything and given our President’s daring, audaciously great speech on Gaza, we should not be settling for this visa pittance.
Is this all we got from taking in our deportee West African neighbours? Anyways,” he quipped.
By Gifty Boateng