Mahama’s experienced diplomacy has saved Ghana from US visa restrictions — Ablakwa

Minister for Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has praised President John Dramani Mahama for what he described as his experience and tactical leadership on the international front.

According to the minister, the strong and mutually respectful relationship between President Mahama and United States President Donald Trump has helped Ghana avoid recent US visa restrictions.

Speaking at a programme in Accra on Wednesday, December 17, Mr Ablakwa also expressed appreciation to the US Embassy in Ghana for its continued support.

“And if you doubted the good brotherliness between President Trump and President Mahama, you may have seen last night that in the latest round of US visa restrictions, which hit very closely because almost all our neighbours are now affected,” he said.

“President Trump once again exempted his brother’s country, the Republic of Ghana. We were fully exempted, and we are grateful to President Mahama for leading our foreign policy, which clearly is a mark of dexterity, experience, skill, expertise and unwavering commitment to our age-old foreign policy of being friends of all and enemies to none,” Mr Ablakwa added.

This comes after Mr. Trump recently expanded a US travel ban, barring nationals of five additional countries and people travelling on Palestinian Authority-issued documents from entering the United States.

The White House said the restrictions are intended “to protect the security of the United States” and will come into force on January 1, 2026.

Full entry restrictions will be imposed on people from Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, South Sudan and Syria, as well as Palestinian Authority passport holders.

The administration has also moved Laos and Sierra Leone, which were previously subject to partial restrictions, to the full ban list, and imposed partial restrictions on 15 other countries, including Nigeria, Tanzania and Zimbabwe.

President Trump, who has tightened immigration controls since returning to the White House in January, said the expanded travel ban was necessary due to what his administration described as failures in overseas screening and vetting systems.