President John Dramani Mahama is urging Ghanaians heading to the 2026 World Cup in North America to return home after the tournament.
This follows allegations of visa overstay by some supporters in the past, which the President stressed could jeopardize Ghana’s visa privileges.
The 2026 World Cup, to be co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico, will be the largest in history, featuring 48 teams and 104 matches.
With Ghana among the qualified nations, thousands of supporters are expected to travel to cheer on the Black Stars.
Earlier, the United States Embassy had cautioned Ghanaian travellers, stressing that a violation of the U.S. immigration laws could result in serious consequences, including future travel ineligibility.
The Charge d’Affaires, Mr Rolf Olson, gave the warning during a media engagement to clarify visa procedures and appointment availability ahead of the tournament.
Addressing the issue on the floor of Parliament during the State of the Nation Address on Friday, February 27, Mr. Mahama said his government put in efforts to ensure the ban imposed on Ghana by the US was lifted.
“Supporters and other people interested in going to support the team would have to submit visa requests to the American Embassy,” he added.
According to him, “We are being told that we must ensure that supporters who go [to the tournament] return on the visas. It has taken a lot of work to restore Ghana’s five-year non-immigrant visas and take us off the ban list.
“I hope the World Cup does not see thousands of Ghanaians travel to America, refuse to return, and push us back onto the travel ban list.”
Meanwhile, available information indicates that the Black Stars will use Bryant University as its base camp training site for the World Cup, which will see them play Panama, England and Croatia.
