Franklin Cudjoe, the President of Policy Think Tank, IMANI Africa, has told the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, that he could have negotiated for a good reduction of the15% tariff imposed on Ghana.
According to Franklin Cudjoe, he wished Ablakwa had not posted and celebrated the US visa restrictions reversal.
He highlighted that Ghana should not be settling for a visa pittance and questioned if this was all Ghana got for accepting West African deportees from the US.
Franklin Cudjoe, in his post on X, wrote, “ Frankly, my brother Honourable Okudzeto, I wish this had not been posted and celebrated. We had this already. Yes, I know the Trump administration threatened visa restrictions, but we could have negotiated for more, perhaps a good reduction of the 15% tariff imposed on Ghana.
He added, “Knowing that Trump is a deal maker on almost everything and given our President’s daring , audaciously great speech on Gaza, we should not be settling for this visa pittance. Is this all we got from taking in our deportee West African neighbours? Anyways”
His comments follow Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa announcement that Ghana has secured a major diplomatic breakthrough with the United States.
According to the Foreign Affairs Minister, the US has reversed its visa restrictions imposed on Ghana in July this year.
Ghanaians are now eligible for five-year multiple-entry visas, along with other enhanced consular privileges.
The Minister revealed that the information was communicated to him by the US Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs, Allison Hooker, during a bilateral meeting with Ghana’s delegation at the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York.
Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa made this known on his social media page X on Friday, September 26, he wrote, “Big win for Ghana!
The US visa restrictions imposed on Ghana has been reversed.
Ghanaians can now be eligible for five-year multiple-entry visas and other enhanced consular privileges.
This good news was directly communicated to me by US Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs, Allison Hooker at a bilateral meeting earlier today, in the margins of the UN General Assembly”.
Ablakwa post added, “I am really pleased that months of high-level diplomatic negotiations has led to a successful outcome.
It will be recalled that the US imposed visa restrictions on Ghana and other countries in July this year. The affected countries were slapped with a maximum three-month single-entry visa and other limitations. In the specific case of Ghana, the Trump Administration said they were reacting to many years of visa overstays, mainly by students”.
Ablakwa described the reversal as a healthier and stronger Ghana-US relations.
Meanwhile, some netizens under Ablakwa’s post have written, “This was the agreement with the exchange of deportees from other west Africa countries right? This is no big win issue for Ghana, it is a puppet victory. If the US put visa ban on us, we do same to them. Speeches don’t fight systems but actions”.
“So, what does this mean for students who were previously issued 3-month single-entry visas? Are there any provisions that would allow these students to travel in and out of the US for activities such as academic conferences without facing restrictions?”, another netizen quizzed.
Additionally, a netizen added, “Well done. However, the question begs asking what does the US stand to gain from these negotiations. History tells us the US never concedes unless they stand to gain a far greater advantage in the long run”.
One more Ghanaian wrote, “We’ve sold our sovereignty, our soul, by being forced to accept so-called West African deportees just so we can have our visa restrictions restored. This is disgraceful from a government we have so much faith in”.
Finally, a netizen added, “Good diplomatic win, Minister. Securing better visa terms strengthens Ghana–US ties and opens doors for many Ghanaians. But beyond visas, we must push harder for policies that create opportunities at home so our youth don’t see migration as their only chance”.
See the post below:
Frankly, my brother Honourable Okudzeto, I wish this had not been posted and celebrated. We had this already. Yes, l know the Trump administration threatened visa restrictions, but we could have negotiated for more, perhaps a good reduction of the 15% tariff imposed on Ghana.… https://t.co/mzFLUPHv4g
— Franklin CUDJOE (@lordcudjoe) September 27, 2025