By Ebi Kesiena
The United States has reinstated full visa validity for Ghanaian citizens, a development tied to Ghana’s recent decision to accept deported West African nationals from the US, including Nigerians.
In a statement posted on Saturday via its official X (formerly Twitter) handle, the US Embassy in Ghana announced: “The maximum validity periods for all categories of non-immigrant visas for Ghanaians have been restored to their previous lengths.”
It added that B1/B2 visitor visas will now once again be valid for five years, multiple entry, while F1 student visas have been restored to four years, multiple entry.
This decision reverses the restrictions imposed in 2019, when Washington curtailed Ghana’s visa privileges over disputes concerning the repatriation of Ghanaian deportees.
The timing of the announcement has fuelled speculation, particularly following recent remarks by President John Mahama regarding cooperation with the US on deportations.
Speaking to Reuters, Mahama confirmed that from September 11, Ghana began receiving deportees who are not Ghanaian citizens but nationals of other West African countries.
“We were approached by the US to accept third-party nationals who were being removed from the US, and we agreed that West African nationals were acceptable because all our fellow West Africans don’t need a visa to come to our country,” he said.
He further stressed that under ECOWAS’ free movement protocol, citizens of member states already travel within West Africa without visas.
Mahama revealed that the first group of 14 deportees including Nigerians, a Gambian, and others had already arrived in Accra. Ghanaian authorities, he said, are facilitating their return to their home countries.
The arrangement mirrors immigration policies pursued under US President Donald Trump, which promoted deportations to “third countries.” Similar measures saw migrants removed to nations such as Eswatini, South Sudan, and Rwanda.
Nigeria, however, has strongly resisted such proposals, rejecting efforts by Washington to channel deportees who are not Nigerian citizens through its territory.
