A former Presidential Staffer under the Akufo-Addo administration, Dennis Miracles Aboagye, has sharply criticized the government over its handling of new U.S. visa regulations that significantly reduce the validity and flexibility of visas issued to Ghanaian travelers.
In a Facebook post that has since garnered significant public attention, Aboagye warned that the U.S. government’s recent shift to issuing single-entry, three-month visas for most Ghanaian non-immigrant applicants carries serious economic and diplomatic implications for Ghana, particularly for frequent travelers and students.
“The 3-month single-entry visa thing has an economic burden and implications on Ghanaians. Wake up and fix it,” he wrote, calling for urgent government action.
According to the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Consular Affairs, the new rules—implemented under the U.S. Visa Reciprocity and Civil Documents policy—are meant to align U.S. visa practices with those of other nations, including Ghana.
Key changes include:
• B-class visas (for business and tourism) and F-1 student visas are now single-entry and valid for only three months, even if the traveler’s purpose (such as study) extends beyond that period.
• Diplomatic (A-class) visas remain multiple-entry, with validity periods ranging from 24 to 60 months.
• K1 and K2 visas (for fiancés and their children) are single-entry valid for six months.
• K3 and K4 visas (for spouses and children of U.S. citizens) retain multiple-entry status for up to 24 months.
This marks a significant shift from previous visa terms, where many Ghanaians could obtain multiple-entry visas valid for up to five years.
Reciprocity at the Center of the Policy
Aboagye insists that the U.S. move is clearly a reciprocity measure, in response to how Ghana issues visas to American citizens. He criticized the Ghanaian government for attempting to deflect public scrutiny and failing to engage in swift diplomacy to resolve the issue.
“Our Government who should act in such a swift manner is here arguing with its citizens and attempting to cover up the fact that it is a reciprocity issue. Meanwhile, the thing is written in black and white by the U.S. government for everyone to read,” Aboagye noted.
He pointed to Nigeria’s response as an example, noting that the Nigerian government had acknowledged the policy as reciprocity and had begun diplomatic efforts to negotiate changes with the U.S.
“There is only ONE WAY out of this for Ghana. If you want 5-year multiple visas for Ghanaian citizens, then restore the 5-year multiple visa for American citizens,” Aboagye said, emphasizing that the matter is not about sovereignty but “common sense diplomacy.”
The change is expected to hit frequent travelers, students, and businesspeople the hardest, as they will now be required to reapply for a new visa for every trip, leading to additional application costs, longer wait times at U.S. embassies, and possible disruption to travel plans.
Many observers say the policy could also affect Ghana’s image as a travel and business-friendly country and could strain people-to-people relations between Ghana and the United States.
As of now, the Ghanaian government has yet to officially respond to the claims of reciprocity or indicate whether it will review its own visa policy toward U.S. nationals in a bid to restore the previous visa privileges for Ghanaian citizens.