US Embassy in Ghana Issues Strong Warning to Ghanaians, Details Spark Debate
- The United States has just issued an advisory for Ghanaians who desire to travel to the developed country
- It warned that persons found to have flouted any law in an attempt to travel to the US will be severely penalised
- Ghanaians have shared varied opinions on the statement issued by the US Embassy in Accra
The United States has issued a strongly worded statement to Ghanaians eager to travel to their country.
The statement sighted by YEN.com.gh on the Facebook page of the US Embassy Ghana on Tuesday, June 17, first emphasised the readiness of the US to welcome Ghanaians into their country.
Source: UGC
It, however, warned that there will be consequences for persons, including students, who flout their laws in an attempt to travel to the US
With this statement, the embassy stated that it would not tolerate any attempts by Ghanaians to enter the United States illegally.
It added that attempts to falsify information for a visa, work without proper authorisation, or overstay a visa will also come with significant penalties.
Source: Getty Images
"We remain committed to welcoming visitors from Ghana who wish to study, invest, or engage in business activities in the United States. It is essential for all applicants to comply with U.S. laws. Any attempts to enter the United States illegally, falsify information for a visa, work without proper authorization, or overstay a visa will incur significant penalties."
The statement concluded by urging Ghanaians who desire to travel to the US not to engage a fixer in a desperate attempt to obtain a visa.
"We wish to emphasize that you do not need the services of a fixer or visa consultant to apply for a U.S. visa! This can be done directly through our official website at no extra cost. It is important to note that no fixer or consultant can guarantee a visa. Any such promises are deceptive and intended to defraud you," the statement read.
This warning comes at a time when the US is reportedly considering travel bans on Ghana and 35 other countries.
US places travel ban on 12 countries
The United States has banned citizens of 12 countries from entering the country.
The move, according to the government, is aimed at protecting the country from terrorists.
The affected countries include Afghanistan, Myanmar, Chad, the Republic of the Congo, and Equatorial Guinea.
The others are Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen.
Additionally, seven countries such as Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan, and Venezuela, will be partially restricted.
US trains experts to spot fake travel documents
The U.S. Department of State's Diplomatic Security Service has announced that more agents have been trained to spot fake travel documents.
A post on the Diplomatic Security Service's Facebook page on June 15, 2025, shared that the Diplomatic Security Service has shared its expertise with over 53,000 foreign and State Department partners.
"The U.S. Department of State's Diplomatic Security Service (DSS) special agents are experts at spotting fake travel documents, and they have shared their expertise with over 53,000 foreign and State Department partners. DSS trains global law enforcement partners on travel document security features, fraudulent document and imposter detection methods, and suspect traveler profiles to prevent crime such as illicit drug smuggling and terrorist activity from crossing U.S. borders."
Reactions to US travel warning for Ghanaians
Social media users who took to the comments section of the post have shared varied opinions on the statement by the embassy.
Stephany B Antwi-Acquah stated:
"Perfect, but why are students not able to secure appointment dates for their interviews? This is really disturbing."
Sam-Ansu Walcott:
"God bless my motherland, Ghana. We shall school, learn and invest in ourselves and our country. That’s the only way we can escape the bullying of the world’s super economic powers. God bless the USA 🇺🇸 for making sure her space is free from illegalities as well. I love that."
Bolo Kpaku Gbortorlu reacted:
"Your actions show otherwise. Law-abiding US citizens and permanent residents have been waiting for interviews for their minor children, spouses, and other relatives for close to two years for a process which was supposed to take 6–7 months. Families are going through stress and frustration because of this. Most unfortunate is the fact that you don’t even bother to communicate with petitioners and beneficiaries to at least assure and/or update them about the status of their application."
Ghanaian man involved in $15k visa fraud
YEN.com.gh reported that a Ghanaian travel consultant was hauled to court after allegedly defrauding a tour operator of $15,000.
Margius Adjei, 47, is reported to have taken the amount from Rashman Travel and Tours' CEO.
Adjei promised to secure Nicaraguan visas for 20 Rashman Travel and Tours clients within three months.
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Proofreading by Samuel Gitonga, copy editor at YEN.com.gh.
Source: YEN.com.gh
