President John Dramani Mahama has explained that the visa ban reversal by the United States government was in the best interest of Ghana and has no financial considerations to it.
The United States recently imposed visa restriction on Ghana and other countries. According to the President, the recent imposition of visa restrictions by the Donald Trump administration was due to many Ghanaians overstaying in the US.
However, government managed to get the restriction reversed after a meeting with U.S. authorities.
Addressing Ghana’s envoys at the Jubilee House on October 1, 2025 before their departure to various countries, the President said: “many of you are aware that Ghana became the only country subject to US visa restrictions to secure a complete reversal from the Trump administration. Let me state clearly that this outcome was negotiated in Ghana’s best interest.”
President John Mahama further urged Ghanaians who visit the US to return home when their visas expire, noting that the recent imposition of visa restrictions by the Donald Trump administration was due to many Ghanaians overstaying in the US.
“…and one of the key points in our negotiation with the US authorities was our agreement to address the issue of overstayers who travel on student visas and others who travel as part of official government delegations – these are people who go and instead of coming back, they decide to stay.
“We gave assurances that we will work with them to make sure that our people are not overstaying. Those you applying for visas, please when you go, come back because you affect everybody else,” he added.
President Mahama also noted that, “there was no financial consideration as part of the understanding between Ghana and the United States.”
Those of you applying for visas, please when you go come back – Mahama urges visitors to the US
