The government has confirmed the reduction in both the validity period and the number of entries permitted for most non-immigrant visa types of the United States (US), including business and tourism visas (B-class), which will now be issued as single-entry visas valid for just 3 months, compared to the previous 5 years multiple-entry.
Speaking in an interview on Asempa FM on July 9, 2025, the Minister of State in charge of Government Communications, Felix Kwakye Ofosu, refuted assertions that the reduction had something to do with the actions of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa.
He explained that the move by the US government is in relation to a previous warning to place Ghana and 35 other African countries on a visa ban list by the government.
He said that the new measures will only be in place for two months and were put in place because most Ghanaians, especially students, overstayed their visas, indicating that once the demands the US government has made are settled, they will be reversed.
“The reason for this is that our nationals travel to America and do not return upon the expiration of their visas, especially students.
“The American government has the policy that not less than 15% of foreign nationals from a particular country who come to their country for studies must return to their home countries. But as we speak, the American government says about 21% of students who travelled to the US for studies have overstayed their visas,” he said in the Twi dialect.
He added, “So, that is the reason we have been added to this list. And the American government has said it is for two months as they assess the steps we are taking to reduce this.”
