A diplomatic row appears to be brewing between the United States and Ghana, following the Donald Trump administration’s consideration to include Ghana in a new wave of proposed travel bans targeting 36 additional countries.

The development comes on the heels of sharp criticisms from Ghana’s Vice President, Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang, over U.S. President Donald Trump’s remarks on foreign aid to Africa.

According to a memo from the U.S. State Department obtained by The Washington Post, Ghana is among 25 African nations—along with countries in Central Asia, the Caribbean, and the Pacific—that could soon face visa restrictions or outright travel bans.

The memo, signed by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, outlines that these countries have been given 60 days to meet new immigration and security benchmarks or risk enforcement of the travel measures.

While U.S. authorities have not officially confirmed the list, Ghana’s inclusion has drawn sharp local reaction and stoked concerns about the underlying motive—especially following recent comments by Vice President Opoku-Agyemang that publicly criticized the Trump-led U.S. foreign policy posture toward Africa.

Veep’s Rebuke Sparks Tensions

At a high-profile event at Jubilee House in March 2025, where she engaged students from Harvard University and MIT, the Ghanaian Vice President did not mince words as she challenged the narrative that U.S. foreign aid to Africa was purely altruistic.

“You see, one of the questions he hasn’t asked himself is how much leaves our continent for his country. They think it’s just charity. It is not,” she said, referring to Donald Trump’s claims on cutting back on aid to Africa.

She further warned that African nations, including Ghana, are increasingly re-evaluating the imbalanced nature of global economic partnerships.

“At the right time, we’ll also take action. And it will not be funny,” the Vice President added, pointing to recent African efforts, such as Niger’s renegotiation of its mineral contracts that dramatically boosted its national revenue.

Observers believe her bold remarks—widely circulated across international media and diplomatic circles—may have contributed to Ghana being placed on Washington’s radar for possible punitive visa restrictions.

The Memo’s Accusations

The State Department memo cites various concerns as justification for the proposed bans. These include:

Failure to produce reliable identity documents

High rates of visa overstays

Government fraud and lack of centralized civil registries

The offering of citizenship in exchange for financial investment without residency requirements

Alleged “anti-American” and “antisemitic” activity by citizens from these nations

While the memo also notes that countries willing to repatriate deported third-country nationals or enter into “safe third country” agreements could see reduced penalties, it remains unclear whether Ghana will engage in such negotiations.

Ghana Among U.S. Partners Targeted

The inclusion of Ghana—long considered a strong U.S. ally in West Africa—has raised eyebrows.

Along with Egypt, Djibouti, and Nigeria, Ghana plays a key regional role in promoting peace, democracy, and counter-terrorism.

The potential imposition of a travel ban could affect diplomatic relations, student exchanges, business travel, and remittance flows from Ghanaian diaspora communities in the U.S.

Critics of the Trump administration argue that the move smacks of political retaliation and undermines the very developmental partnerships that American policy claims to support.

“This is a stark reminder that speaking truth to global powers, especially on issues of historical injustice and exploitation, comes with costs,” a senior Ghanaian diplomat told Daily Gist on condition of anonymity.

A Widening Crack in U.S.-Africa Relations?

This proposed expansion of the travel ban comes just weeks after the Trump administration reinstated restrictions on 13 other countries, including Afghanistan, Iran, Libya, and Venezuela.

Ghana’s potential blacklisting could mark a major low in U.S.-Ghana relations not seen since the early 2000s.

Meanwhile, the Ghanaian government has not yet officially responded to the memo, but insiders suggest diplomatic channels are being activated to clarify Ghana’s position and avert any adverse measures.

At the same time, the Vice President continues to champion a stronger African voice on global stages, calling on the youth and institutions like Harvard and MIT to engage more critically on Africa’s place in the global economy.

“We are responsible for less than 5% [of global emissions], yet we are expected to bear the brunt of climate change,” she stressed, linking environmental and economic justice in her broader critique of Western policies.

Whether the U.S. goes ahead with the ban or reconsiders, the friction highlights the growing assertiveness of African leaders in shaping narratives about aid, accountability, and sovereignty in international affairs.