Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa has confirmed that Ghana faces potential visa sanctions from the United States after being placed on a U.S State Department watchlist due to a high rate of student visa overstays.
Speaking at a press briefing in Accra on Thursday, June 26, Minister Ablakwa revealed that U.S. officials formally notified Ghana of the issue, highlighting a 21% overstay rate among Ghanaian students exceeding the U.S. threshold of 15%.
“This development has caused significant concern and came as a surprise to us,” Ablakwa said. “However, the government has engaged in constructive discussions with U.S. authorities, who have now officially communicated this matter to us.”
He emphasized that Ghana is not being categorized alongside countries facing sanctions for severe national security threats such as terrorism or extremism.
“The U.S. has outlined 12 criteria for visa-related sanctions, including terrorism, state sponsorship of terrorism, and harboring violent extremists, as well as high visa overstay rates,” Ablakwa explained adding “Ghana’s issue specifically relates to student visa overstays.”
He further elaborated that according to U.S. data, 21% of Ghanaian students on visas have failed to return home after completing their studies, surpassing the acceptable limit of 15%.
Despite the warning, Ablakwa sought to reassure the public, noting Ghana’s history of compliance with U.S. immigration laws.
“Our engagements with U.S. officials have been positive. They have confirmed that aside from the overstay concern, Ghana does not fall under categories involving terrorism or other serious security threats,” he said.
“We have also been cooperative regarding deportations, with 188 Ghanaians on the U.S. deportation list being handled appropriately by our embassies,” he noted.
Source :www.kumasimail.com /Kwadwo Owusu
