US Visa Sanctions: Don't Spend More Than 1 Month In America - Dep. Info Minister Tells Ghanaians

Deputy Information Minister, Pius Enam Hadzide says the United States' visa restrictions on Ghana are an attempt to "bully" the country.

According to him, the Government of Ghana has been cooperating with the US to ensure a safe and smooth deportation of Ghanaian nationals from the foreign land.

He wondered why then the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Department of State would issue visa sanctions on Ghana for "lack of cooperation" on the part of Ghana government.

Speaking on Peace FM's Kokrokoo, Hon. Enam Hadzide told host Kwami Sefa Kayi that the government has not relented on her decision to accept her nationals into the country.

He explained that "a deportation list" provided by the US to the Ghana mission in Washington had 28 people, of which 11 have been processed to return to Ghana.

"The remaining people awaiting deportation," he noted, "are still under scrutiny because they all have peculiar issues that the government has been to be well informed before any action can be taken."

The Deputy Minister of Information, however, advised Ghanaians not to panic because of the visa restrictions by the US saying it doesn't mean they cannot travel.

He noted that Ghanaians who seek to travel to the US can still do so, but the new order is "don't spend more than one month in America. This is the new order . . . However; this doesn’t call for fear and panic”.

He also disclosed that due to the visa sanctions, the usual multiple entry which gave people the right to travel to the US with the same visa has been cancelled.

Hon. Enam Hadzide added that despite the visa sanctions on Ghana, the Ghana's relationship with the US will continue unabated.