Foreign
U.S. Restores Five-Year Multiple-Entry Visas for Ghanaians Amid Diplomatic Breakthrough
- /home/naijuinz/public_html/wp-content/plugins/mvp-social-buttons/mvp-social-buttons.php on line 27
https://naijablitznews.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/US-visa.jpg&description=U.S. Restores Five-Year Multiple-Entry Visas for Ghanaians Amid Diplomatic Breakthrough', 'pinterestShare', 'width=750,height=350'); return false;" title="Pin This Post">
- Share
- Tweet /home/naijuinz/public_html/wp-content/plugins/mvp-social-buttons/mvp-social-buttons.php on line 72
https://naijablitznews.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/US-visa.jpg&description=U.S. Restores Five-Year Multiple-Entry Visas for Ghanaians Amid Diplomatic Breakthrough', 'pinterestShare', 'width=750,height=350'); return false;" title="Pin This Post">
The United States has officially lifted visa restrictions on Ghana, restoring five-year multiple-entry visas and granting expanded consular privileges for Ghanaian nationals. The development, announced on Friday, September 26, 2025, represents a major diplomatic win for Accra following months of tense negotiations with Washington.
Ghana’s Foreign Minister, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, who confirmed the breakthrough, described the agreement as a testament to persistent high-level engagement. “I am really pleased that months of diplomatic dialogue have led to this successful outcome,” Ablakwa said, hailing the decision as a “big win for Ghana.”
The announcement was formally conveyed by U.S. Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs, Allison Hooker, during a bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York. According to diplomats present, the restored visa privileges are expected to boost travel, academic exchange, and business opportunities for Ghanaian citizens.
Ablakwa emphasized that the move demonstrates a renewed spirit of partnership between Accra and Washington. “It’s good to see healthier and stronger Ghana-USA relations. For God and Country,” he remarked.
While the decision is being celebrated in Ghana, it comes amid controversy tied to U.S. immigration policies under President Donald Trump. Ghana has recently faced criticism for cooperating with Washington in accepting West African deportees, including some individuals with no direct familial or national ties to the country.
Since early September, at least 14 West Africans have been flown to Ghana from the United States. Some of them had previously secured temporary protection from U.S. immigration courts, yet were deported regardless. Ghanaian officials later repatriated at least four of these individuals to their countries of origin.
President John Mahama defended Ghana’s role by citing the ECOWAS protocol on free movement, which allows West Africans to enter Ghana without a visa. However, critics argue that Accra risks being used as a “third-country deportation hub” for U.S. immigration enforcement.
Human rights groups have expressed alarm over the treatment of deportees. Meredyth Yoon, a U.S.-based attorney, told AFP that between eight and ten individuals were detained under military guard in Ghana before being abruptly transferred to Togo, where they were reportedly abandoned without adequate support. Another U.S. chartered deportation flight arrived in Accra this week, though the number of passengers remains unclear.
Ghanaian authorities insist their actions are humanitarian and not an endorsement of Washington’s hardline immigration agenda. Nonetheless, the developments highlight the delicate balancing act Accra must perform maintaining cordial ties with Washington while safeguarding its image within Africa and upholding human rights.
Despite these complexities, the lifting of visa restrictions underscores Ghana’s diplomatic resilience. Analysts believe the restored consular privileges will encourage smoother travel, strengthen business links, and expand educational opportunities for Ghanaians in the United States.
As Ablakwa noted, “This outcome signals not just restored visa access, but a stronger and more cooperative relationship between Ghana and the United States.”
Iran’s foreign ministry on Tuesday accused the United States of violating a fragile ceasefire during the past 48 hours in the southern coastal province of Hormozgan, without specifying the incident.
“The US terrorist army, continuing its illegal and unjustified actions since the ceasefire … has, in the past 48 hours, committed a gross violation of the ceasefire in the Hormozgan region,” the ministry said in a statement.
The US Central Command said forces had on Monday attacked missile sites and boats it said were trying to lay mines in the Gulf, while Iran’s Revolutionary Guards said it had fired at US aircraft attempting to enter the country’s airspace.
AFP
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has ordered the restoration of international internet access in Iran, which had been suspended since the United States and Israel launched attacks against the country, local media reported Monday.
“The decree aimed at restoring internet access to its pre-January state was communicated to the Ministry of Communications by the president,” Iranian news agencies Tasnim and Fars reported.
Authorities shut down the internet during large-scale anti-government protests that peaked in early January, then suspended it again on February 28 at the start of the Middle East war.
Since then, the population has only had access to domestic platforms and websites.
AFP
US President Donald Trump says an agreement with Iran has been “largely negotiated” and details will be announced soon.
The deal would include the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, he said on Saturday, without giving further details.
Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei earlier told state television that US and Iranian positions had been converging in the last week, but warned that did not mean agreements would be reached on key issues and accused the Americans of “contradictory statements”.
On social media, Trump said he had a “very good call” with the leaders of Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, and others about a “Memorandum of Understanding pertaining to PEACE”.
“An agreement has been largely negotiated, subject to finalization between the United States of America, the Islamic Republic of Iran, and the various other Countries, as listed,” Trump said.
“Final aspects and details of the deal are currently being discussed, and will be announced shortly.”
He also said he had a call on Saturday with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, which “went very well”.
The president has not given any further details on the deal, but has insisted any agreement would “absolutely” prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon.
Later, Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said: “I congratulate President Donald Trump on his extraordinary efforts to pursue peace,” and said the phone call had been “very useful and productive”.
Pakistan has been helping to negotiate a peace deal, serving as an intermediary.
“We hope to host the next round of talks very soon,” he wrote in the statement on X.
The US and Israel launched wide-ranging strikes on Iran on 28 February, sparking conflict across the Middle East. Iran responded by launching attacks on Israel and US-allied states in the Gulf.
A ceasefire in Iran was agreed in early April, and since then Washington and Tehran have engaged in talks over a long-term peace deal.
Speaking to state television on Saturday, Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei also described a “memorandum of understanding”, saying Iran’s intention was to reach an agreement “in the form of a framework, consisting of 14 points”.
Baqaei said they were in the process of finalising the memorandum, so further talks could be held within 30 to 60 days “and ultimately a final agreement can be reached”.
The new sense of momentum comes after the mood appeared to have soured in Washington, with anonymous officials briefing US media on Friday that the administration was preparing for a fresh round of military strikes, although no final decision had been made.
On Friday, the president posted on Truth Social that he would not attend his son Donald Jr’s wedding this weekend so he could remain in Washington DC “during this important period of time”.
Last week, Trump had said the truce was on “massive life support” after rejecting Tehran’s demands, labelling them “totally unacceptable”.
The US has blockaded Iranian ports since 13 April.
On Saturday, US Central Command (Centcom) said it had redirected 100 vessels, disabled four, and allowed 26 humanitarian aid ships to pass since the blockade began.
Centcom commander Admiral Brad Cooper said its forces had been “highly effective” in “allowing zero trade into and out of Iranian ports which has squeezed Iran economically”.
Meanwhile, Iran has claimed military control of an area around the Strait of Hormuz, and has said all transit through the strait “requires coordination with and authorisation from the Persian Gulf Strait Authority”.
The US and Gulf allies have repeatedly rejected Iranian attempts to assert control over the strait, and the US has told ships not to comply with Iran’s rules.
Mourinho returns to Real Madrid on three-year deal
Don’t let us die, abducted Oyo principal begs Tinubu, Makinde
UCL Final: Dembele, Hakimi Return As PSG Name Squad For Arsenal Showdown
-
Metro6 hours agoPolice Arrest Mother, Daughter Over Alleged ₦18m Romance Scam Targeting Malta-Based Victim
-
News5 hours agoThe Politics Of Maturity: Why Rivers May Need Healing More Than Victory
-
News6 hours agoAkpabio Hails Tinubu’s Reforms, Endorses Re-Election as President Marks Three Years in Office
-
News6 hours agoSouth African Lawmaker, MK Party Chief Whip Arrested Over Alleged R233,000 Salary Fraud
-
News6 hours agoLawyer Petitions NBC, Seeks Suspension of BBNaija Over Alleged Indecent Content
-
Politics6 hours agoNollywood Actress Gets 2027 Presidential Ticket
-
News5 hours agoNigerian Governors Propose ₦100,000 New Minimum Wage
-
News5 hours agoTroops Rescue 31 Kidnap Victims In Zamfara, Katsina, Kill Five Terrorists