This development was confirmed by at a briefing in Accra on Thursday, June 26, 2025.
Ablakwa revealed that US authorities have officially notified Ghana about a 21% overstay rate among Ghanaian student visa holders, which far exceeds the acceptable 15% threshold.
“The issue has created considerable anxiety, and that report came to all of us as a surprise. However, I can confirm that the government has had productive engagements with U.S. officials, and this is now an official communication, not a leak,” he stated.
According to a report by myJoyOnline.com on June 26, 2025, while the warning is serious, Ghana’s inclusion on the watchlist is specifically related to student visa overstays and not associated with countries facing sanctions over terrorism, extremism, or state-sponsored violence.
“The ban, according to US officials, will affect countries not complying with some 12 listed concerns. Ghana’s issue relates solely to student overstay,” Ablakwa emphasised.
US data indicates that 21% of Ghanaian students fail to return home after completing their studies, a breach of immigration agreements.
Despite this, Ablakwa reassured the public that Ghana remains in good standing on other criteria and has a history of cooperation with US immigration regulations.
He cited Ghana’s responsiveness regarding 188 deportation cases under the previous Trump administration and its continued compliance through its embassies.
“We believe the matter of overstays, though important, should not warrant the same treatment as security threats. Our dialogue with US officials is ongoing, and we are optimistic about resolving this diplomatically,” the minister added.
The Ghanaian government plans to intensify diplomatic efforts in the coming weeks to prevent sanctions that could impact educational travel and bilateral relations between the two countries.
