Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa has declared that the United States has exempted Ghana from its most recent visa restrictions, which were announced on Tuesday, December 16.
The Donald Trump administration disclosed plans to broaden travel restrictions to include an additional 20 countries and the Palestinian Authority, effectively doubling the number of nations impacted by the extensive limits imposed earlier this year regarding who may travel to and emigrate to the US.
While addressing a farewell parade for Ghana Army Engineers who were deployed to Jamaica to aid in reconstruction efforts on Wednesday, December 17, Minister Ablakwa stated that Ghana’s exemption highlights the amicable relationship between the two nations.
“Last night, during the latest round of US visa restrictions, which impacted nearly all our neighboring countries, President Trump once again exempted our brother nation, the Republic of Ghana.
“We express our gratitude to President Mahama for steering our foreign policy initiatives,” he remarked.
President Donald Trump has broadened a US travel ban, prohibiting nationals from five additional countries and individuals traveling on documents issued by the Palestinian Authority from entering the US.
The White House indicated that the restrictions were aimed “to safeguard the security of the United States” and will take effect on January 1.
Comprehensive entry restrictions will be enforced on individuals from Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, South Sudan, and Syria, as well as holders of Palestinian Authority passports.
The administration also transitioned Laos and Sierra Leone, which were previously under partial restrictions, to the full ban list and imposed partial restrictions on 15 other nations, including Nigeria, Tanzania, and Zimbabwe.
Trump, who has tightened immigration regulations since his return to the White House in January, stated that the expanded travel ban was essential due to what his administration characterized as deficiencies in overseas screening and vetting systems.
Authorities pointed to elevated rates of visa overstays, inconsistent civil documentation, corruption, terrorist activities, and insufficient collaboration in the acceptance of deported citizens.
