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Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa has assured Ghanaians that the Mahama administration is taking proactive diplomatic steps to safeguard the country’s interests as the United States tightens its visa regime.
In a post on X on Thursday, January 8, Mr Ablakwa said government remains committed to pursuing a foreign policy that protects Ghanaian citizens and aligns with the nation’s strategic interests, even as more countries are affected by stricter US visa measures, including refundable bonds of up to US$15,000.
“As many more countries face US visa sanctions and US$15,000 visa bonds, Ghanaians can be assured that the Mahama Administration will continue to pursue mutually beneficial foreign policy objectives that ensure our citizens are not disadvantaged,” he stated, adding, “Trust us to keep fighting for you. For God and Country.”
His comments come amid the quiet expansion of a US visa-bond pilot programme aimed at curbing visa overstays. The policy requires applicants from selected countries to post a refundable financial bond when applying for certain visitor visas as a guarantee of timely departure.
Although Ghana is not currently among the affected countries, the extension of the programme to additional nations, particularly in Africa and Asia, has raised concerns among travellers, businesses and policymakers about the possibility of future inclusion.
Critics argue that the visa-bond requirement places a significant financial burden on ordinary travellers and legitimate businesses, while also risking delays in visa processing due to added documentation requirements.
