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The Majority Leader, Mahama Ayariga, has assured Parliament that the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, will soon appear before the House to provide details on Ghana’s agreement with the United States regarding the acceptance of deportees from the US and other West African countries.
Mr. Ayariga gave the assurance following a request from the Second Minority Whip, Habib Iddrisu, who urged that the Minister be scheduled to explain the terms of the deportee arrangement and clarify the reasons behind recent changes to US visa policies for Ghanaians.
Mr. Iddrisu noted that during the Majority Leader’s welcome address last Tuesday, he mentioned that the US Embassy in Accra had reduced the five-year multiple-entry visa for Ghanaian applicants to a three-month single-entry visa. He questioned whether the decision was connected to Ghana’s acceptance of deportees from the US.
In his response, Mr. Ayariga encouraged the Minority to file an urgent question to formally summon the Minister to the House for a detailed explanation. He also commended the Foreign Affairs Minister for securing the reversal of the US visa sanctions, describing it as “a significant diplomatic success.”
According to the Majority Leader, the earlier visa restrictions had inconvenienced many Ghanaians with families in the US and negatively affected businesses between the two countries. He emphasized that the minister’s swift intervention helped restore normal visa relations and should be acknowledged.
Mr. Ayariga further clarified that under ECOWAS protocols, citizens of member states have the right to enter and remain in Ghana for up to 90 days, regardless of any external agreements. He added that Ghana’s willingness to receive deportees aligns with regional migration policies rather than a special arrangement with the US.
