The Member of Parliament for Damango, Samuel Abu Jinapor, has expressed concern over what he describes as troubling developments in United States visa and immigration processing relating to Ghana, warning that the situation could negatively affect bilateral relations and Ghana’s economy.
Speaking in an interview with JoyNews’ Kwaku Asante, Mr. Abu Jinapor noted that Ghana and the United States have historically enjoyed strong diplomatic ties, making the emerging concerns particularly worrying.
“You realise that literally every US President pays a visit to Ghana. So the relationship is strong; the bilateral relationship is strong. One therefore gets extremely concerned when it does appear that the relationship seems to be deteriorating, and deteriorating very fast,” he said,
“To pause immigrant visa processing in regards to Ghana is very concerning,” he added.
The Damango MP outlined several implications of the situation.
“First of all, there is the inconvenience it may occasion certain Ghanaians. Second, the impact it may have on our national economy, because there is a lot of trade between Ghana and the United States. Thirdly, and perhaps even more importantly, it affects the broader bilateral mission between Ghana and the United States,” he stated.
Mr. Abu Jinapor urged the government to exercise restraint and avoid rushing to conclusions, suggesting that Ghana’s foreign policy posture may require reassessment.
He cited Ghana’s public positioning on international matters, including the ongoing Middle East conflict, as an example, arguing that a more cautious diplomatic approach would yield better outcomes.
“Measured diplomacy always gives better results rather than flamboyant and populist approaches,” Mr. Abu Jinapor added.
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