Ghanaian destinies hang in the balance as US considers travel clampdown

Nana Karikari, Senior Global Affairs Correspondent

A cloud of uncertainty looms over Ghana as the United States weighs adding more countries to its travel ban. This possible move, intended mostly to boost American national security and address perceived vetting deficiencies, could change lives and livelihoods in Ghana.

An internal memo was reportedly sent out by the US State Department to diplomats in about two dozen African nations, along with others in Central Asia, the Caribbean and several Pacific Island countries. In the diplomatic memo signed by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, the State Department laid out a dozen concerns about the countries in question and sought corrective action.

“The Department has identified 36 countries of concern that might be recommended for full or partial suspension of entry if they do not meet established benchmarks and requirements within 60 days,” the memo stated.

The US State Department raised several concerns in the memo, including the lack of a competent or cooperative government in some of the countries mentioned to produce reliable identity documents. Another was the “questionable security” of that country’s passport. Some countries, the memo said, were not cooperative in facilitating the removal of its nationals from the United States who were ordered to be removed. Some countries were overstaying the U.S. visas their citizens were being granted. Other reasons for concern were that the nationals of the country were involved in acts of terrorism in the United States, or antisemitic and anti-American activity.The memo noted that not all of these concerns pertained to every country listed.

Expanding Travel Restrictions

This new list of 36 countries could be added to the list of 19 that were placed under full or partial restrictions earlier this month. The deadline for remediation plans is Tonight, June 18, 2025, at 8 p.m. Eastern time (12 a.m. GMT).

The countries likely to receive a full or a partial ban if they fail to address these issues within 60 days are: Ghana, Nigeria, Burkina Faso, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Benin, Bhutan, Cabo Verde, Cambodia, Cameroon, Côte D’Ivoire, Democratic Republic of Congo, Djibouti, Dominica, Ethiopia, Egypt, Gabon, The Gambia, Kyrgyzstan, Liberia, Malawi, Mauritania, Niger, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, South Sudan, Syria, Tanzania, Tonga, Tuvalu, Uganda, Vanuatu, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.

That would be a major extension of the ban that went into effect earlier this month. Those countries targeted were Iran, Afghanistan, Myanmar, Chad, Congo Republic, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen.

The entry of people from seven other countries – Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan and Venezuela – has been restricted but again only partially.

Ghana Under the Microscope

Ghana’s inclusion on the list is most closely related to its high visa overstay rate. Recent US government data shows a troubling trend. In 2023, one in four Ghanaians granted student visas overstayed their authorized time in the US — an extraordinary 21% overstay rate. For business and tourist visas, the overstay rate hit 7.50%. These figures only deepen a worsening trend compared to pre-pandemic levels

US officials still try to justify these actions as essential to protecting American national security. The State Department has maintained that it is committed to “protecting our nation and its citizens by upholding the highest standards of national security and public safety through our visa process.” The US requires better vetting, screening, and enhanced cooperation from all countries.

Ghanaian Dreams on Hold

For millions of Ghanaians, the US is still seen as a shining light of promise. The threat of expanded travel restrictions especially ignites this deep anxiety. Imagine Baaba, a smart young Ghanaian student, whose scholarship to a university in the US now hangs by a thread. Her entire family’s future dreams rest on her getting an education. Or think about Kwame, a small business owner, who depends on frequent travel to the US to establish trade and partnership ties. These potential restrictions could cripple his business. The thought of such doors closing sends shivers down the spine of many Ghanaian families, who have invested heavily in these aspirations for generations.

Ghana has historically had very strong educational and cultural ties with the US. Thousands of Ghanaians have been educated in the US since Ghana’s independence in 1957. In February of this year alone, 6,766 Ghanaian students were in the US.  Such restrictions could quickly cut these essential links. The African Union Commission cautions against the  “potential negative impact of such measures on people-to-people ties, educational exchange, commercial engagement, and the broader diplomatic relations that have been carefully nurtured over decades.”

Ghana’s Response and the Way Forward

Ghanaian authorities are reportedly in active discussion with the US on this urgent issue. “Ghana government needs to also consider some of the issues highlighted by the US in relation to the potential travel ban,” noted Ghanaian pundit Elvis Darko, pointing to the estimated 30,000 to 50,000 undocumented Ghanaians in the US alongside nearly 300,000 legal residents.

The US Embassy in Ghana has provided some reassurance. “We remain committed to welcoming visitors from Ghana who wish to study, invest, or engage in business activities in the United States,” the Embassy posted the response on X following the advisory. Additionally, the Embassy issued a stern warning: “It is essential for all applicants to comply with U.S. laws. Any attempts to enter the United States illegally, falsify information for a visa, work without proper authorization, or overstay a visa will incur significant penalties. They further warned against using “fixers” or visa consultants, describing these kinds of assurances as  “deceptive and intended to defraud you!”

As the clock ticks down, the government of Ghana will need to manage a sensitive diplomatic balancing act. How it responds will matter not just for its relations with the US, but for the hopes of thousands of Ghanaians, dreaming of opportunities abroad— the United States of America.

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