- Solomon Owusu downplays the significance of the US visa suspension, calling it a non-issue for Ghana
- The suspension affects permanent residency applications, not travel for visits, education, or work
- Owusu links brain drain to Ghana's lack of opportunities, urging focus on improving local development
Solomon Owusu, the Director of Communication for the United Party, has downplayed concerns over the reported suspension of US visa processing for Ghana and other countries, stating that the United States is not “heaven.” Speaking on the AM Show on Thursday, January 15, Mr. Owusu argued that the policy does not warrant excessive attention and does not pose a significant challenge to Ghana.
He emphasized that as a sovereign nation, the US has the right to determine who it grants permanent residency to, just as Ghana holds similar authority over foreign nationals. “This is not a major issue. The US is a sovereign country, and if it decides not to grant permanent residency to certain individuals, that’s entirely their decision. Ghana could also choose not to grant permanent residency to US citizens, and that would be within our rights,” he said.
Mr. Owusu dismissed the matter as a “non-starter” and added that the only potential impact would be on individuals currently seeking to adjust their immigration status in the US. He also speculated that if former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta is attempting to change his residency status, the policy could affect him.
He also pointed to Ghana’s ongoing brain drain, noting that many professionals, including doctors and nurses, continue to leave for better opportunities in the US. “We complain about brain drain, but people leave because they believe there are better opportunities elsewhere. If Ghana were better, many would stay,” he stated.
Mr. Owusu clarified that the suspension does not affect individuals traveling to the US for visits, education, or work, urging the public to avoid misinterpreting the policy. “This doesn’t affect those traveling for visits, students, or people traveling for work. We need to understand the issue properly,” he said.
Finally, he called on Ghanaians to focus on national development and reduce the emphasis on migration to the United States. “The US is not heaven. We need to educate our people and build our country so that citizens will want to stay,” he stressed.
The suspension, which begins on January 21, will remain in effect indefinitely while consular officers review visa screening procedures under the “public charge” rules. The review aims to strengthen assessments of applicants’ likelihood of relying on US public welfare systems. Affected countries include Ghana, Nigeria, Somalia, Russia, Afghanistan, and several others across Africa, Asia, Europe, and the Caribbean.
