Mahama Fears US Visa Ban

Ghana risks being placed back on the United States non-immigrant visa ban list if supporters who travel for the 2026 FIFA World Cup fail to return home after the tournament.

President John Dramani Mahama, who made this known when delivering his State of the Nation Address in Parliament last Friday, expressed concern that some Ghanaian supporters who will travel to the United States of America for the 2026 FIFA World Cup may fail to return home after the tournament.

A situation he fears could push Ghana back onto the US non-immigrant visa ban list, stating, “It is my hope that this event (the World Cup) will not send thousands of Ghanaians to America and get us back on the ban list.”

President Mahama disclosed that Ghana has been formally advised to ensure that citizens who travel to the United States for the Mundial return on the visas.

He explained that significant diplomatic effort went into restoring Ghana’s five-year non-immigrant visa privileges after previous restrictions.

In July 2025, the United States of America suspended immigrant visa processing for 75 countries, including Ghana and Nigeria, over concerns about visa overstays. The measures limited Ghanaian applicants to three-month single-entry visas.

However, after months of high-level diplomatic negotiations between Accra and Washington, the restrictions were lifted. Ghanaian applicants are now once again eligible for five-year multiple-entry visas, along with enhanced consular privileges.

President Mahama, therefore, urged supporters and individuals planning to travel to North America for the tournament to respect the terms of their visas and return home after the competition.

He emphasized that Ghana’s participation in the World Cup should serve as a platform to promote the country’s image and boost economic opportunities beyond football.

The 2026 tournament will be co-hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada, and is expected to draw thousands of Ghanaian fans eager to rally behind the Black Stars.

Ghana’s senior national team, the Ghana national football team, will set up their training camp at Bryant University during the tournament. The Black Stars have been drawn into a challenging group alongside the Panama national football team, the England national football team, and the Croatia national football team, a development expected to generate a strong Ghanaian presence in the stands.