Ghana has emerged as one of only 20 African countries selected to continue offering full US visa processing services under a major restructuring of American consular operations across the continent.
According to reports, the administration of US President Donald Trump plans to reduce the number of embassies and consulates handling visa applications in Africa from about 50 to just 20.
Under the new arrangement, Accra will remain a full-service visa processing centre, allowing applicants to continue submitting visa applications and attending interviews in Ghana.
Citizens of countries that are not selected as visa hubs will be required to travel to one of the approved centres for visa processing, a move expected to increase travel expenses and logistical challenges for many applicants.
While US embassies and consulates in non-hub countries will remain open, their services will largely be limited to assisting American citizens, issuing diplomatic visas, handling emergency cases and other matters considered to be in the US national interest.
Accra joins 19 other cities across Africa chosen to retain full visa processing services, including Lagos, Nairobi, Dakar, Kigali, Johannesburg and Cape Town.
The reported changes form part of broader immigration reforms being pursued by the Trump administration, which has consistently advocated stricter immigration and visa policies.
Ghana’s inclusion among the selected hubs is expected to strengthen Accra’s position as a key diplomatic and travel centre in West Africa while offering a significant advantage to visa applicants in the region.
