“We Could’ve Negotiated for More”: Franklin Cudjoe on US’s Reversal of Visa Restrictions on Ghana

• The Foreign Affairs Minister, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, announced that the US reversed the visa restrictions placed on Ghana
• However, the president of IMANI Africa, Franklin Cudjoe, said this is not something to be announced or celebrated
• Social media users who saw Franklin Cudjoe’s comment shared varied thoughts on his take on the matter

The president of IMANI Africa, Franklin Cudjoe, said the news of the reversal of the US visa restrictions imposed on Ghana should not have been shared with the public or celebrated.

According to Franklin Cudjoe, the Ghanaian government could have negotiated for more and better deals instead of settling for what he described as ‘visa pittance.’

In a social media post, Franklin Cudjoe asked if the reversal of the US visa restrictions imposed on Ghana is all the country gets for accepting deported West African neighbours.

“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. 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.”

On Friday, September 26, 2025, the Foreign Affairs Minister, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, announced that the US had reversed the visa restrictions imposed on Ghana. He said the reversal took months of high-level diplomatic negotiations.

This means that Ghanaians are now eligible for five-year multiple-entry visas. However, mam

However, many, including Franklin Cudjoe, believe he could have negotiated for more.

Reactions to reversal of US visa restrictions

YEN.com.gh collated some reactions to Franklin Cudjoe’s response. Read them below:

@BenChase_Gh said:

“I beg to differ on this one. The duration for the Visa was revised from five years to three months, so it’s not accurate that we already had this. We could indeed get a better deal, but let’s give credit when it is due.”

@kwesi_damanka wrote:

“Spot on, Franklin, on this one. How is this an achievement? If your reckless actions led us there and now out, why celebrate?”

@Opus__Dei said:

“Visa Pittance? Have you considered the number of Ghanaian students in the USA? It’s not.”

@promisering66 wrote:

“It’s one at a time, Senior. Just believe in @S_OkudzetoAblak to do the work for us. It’s for God and Country for a reason.”

@GomdaJacob said:

“I disagree with your submission here. You’ve to look at the visa ban in a broader perspective. I know a lot of people who’ve lost business opportunities because of the ban. Going to the US is not only for sightseeing.”

@YoungSaeed wrote:

“Frankly, this shouldn’t have been posted. You should have DMd him.”

@kankam144 said:

“Who says @S_OkudzetoAblak is done? This is just the beginning!!! Or you want to say this ends all negotiations with us?”

Source: YEN.com.gh