Ghana may soon face travel restrictions from the United States following a reported increase in the number of Ghanaian students overstaying their visas, according to Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa.
Speaking to the press on Thursday, June 26, 2025, Ablakwa confirmed that Ghana is being considered for inclusion in a new US travel ban list, as first reported by The Washington Post. The report cited a list of 36 countries, including Ghana, under review by the US government, citing non-compliance with visa regulations and other security-related criteria.
Minister Ablakwa revealed that the primary reason for Ghana’s potential inclusion is its high rate of student visa overstays. According to data shared by US authorities, 21% of Ghanaian students who travel to the United States for education fail to return after completing their studies.
“The US officials have communicated to us that the challenge we face really relates to overstays, particularly with students… They have formally communicated to us that 21% is the default rate,” Ablakwa stated.
The US government reportedly flags countries with overstay rates above 15% for further immigration actions, including visa bans. Ghana’s 21% overstay rate puts it above the tolerance threshold.
“They have told us that they would permit countries doing below 15%, but if you are doing above 15% then you will be flagged for further actions,” he added.
Despite the concerning figures, Ablakwa emphasized that ongoing diplomatic engagements with US authorities are yielding constructive discussions. He clarified that Ghana does not fall under other critical categories such as harboring terrorists or refusing deportations—two additional factors used to justify travel bans.
“Apart from overstays, other matters to do with terrorism, harboring criminals, and refusing to be deported — we don’t fall within that category,” he said.
The Minister also disclosed that the US travel ban policy is based on 12 different criteria, ranging from national security to cooperation with immigration enforcement. These include:
- Harboring or funding terrorism
- Being a safe haven for extremists
- Failing to comply with deportation processes
- High visa overstay rates
- Lack of cooperation with US immigration enforcement
The situation remains fluid as both governments continue negotiations to avoid Ghana’s inclusion on the final list.