The United States Embassy in Accra has assured Ghanaians that their doors remain open to them despite reports of a possible travel restriction on Ghanaians by the Trump administration.

In a statement shared on their official X (Twitter) page yesterday, June 17, the embassy stated that “We remain committed to welcoming visitors from Ghana who wish to study, invest, or engage in business activities in the United States.”

The statement comes in response to a Reuters report revealing that President Donald Trump’s administration is reviewing an internal State Department cable recommending expanded travel bans.

While the U.S. government has not officially confirmed the countries under consideration, the leak has sparked concern and speculation in affected regions, with many Ghanaians expressing concerns over the impact of the ban.

But the U.S. Embassy’s message was clear, indicating that legitimate travellers from Ghana have nothing to fear. The statement clarified that Washington is tightening enforcement rather than closing its doors entirely.

“It is essential for all applicants to comply with U.S. laws. Any attempts to enter the United States illegally, falsify information for a visa, work without proper authorisation, or overstay a visa will incur significant penalties,” the Embassy clarified.

The Embassy concluded with a stern warning to the public about fraudsters posing as middlemen and falsely promising to secure visas. They encouraged all applicants to visit their official website to make applications at no cost.

“We wish to emphasise that you do not need the services of a fixer or visa consultant to apply for a U.S. visa! This can be done directly through our official website at no extra cost. It is important to note that no fixer or consultant can guarantee a visa. Any such promises are deceptive and intended to defraud you!”This is due to the long-standing and rising number of fraudulent middlemen who falsely claim they can secure U.S. visas for applicants for a fee.

News of the travel ban on the African-dominated countries list emerged after a leaked memo from The Washington Post. The countries set to be affected include Ghana, Angola; Antigua and Barbuda; Benin; Bhutan; Burkina Faso; Cabo Verde; Cambodia; Cameroon; Democratic Republic of Congo; Djibouti; Dominica; Ethiopia; Egypt; Gabon; Gambia.

The others are Ivory Coast; Kyrgyzstan; Liberia; Malawi; Mauritania; Niger; Nigeria; Saint Kitts and Nevis; Saint Lucia; Sao Tome and Principe; Senegal; South Sudan; Syria; Tanzania; Tonga; Tuvalu; Uganda; Vanuatu; Zambia; and Zimbabwe.

The report revealed that the US State Department has new benchmarks and requirements that it would want the governments of these countries to meet within 60 days.

The memo is said to have indicated that some of these countries have “no competent or cooperative central government authority to produce reliable identity documents or other civil documents,” as well as were engaged in “widespread government fraud.”

The memo also bemoaned the number of foreign citizens who had overstayed their visas.The 36 other countries that risk a travel ban by the USA government wouldn’t be the first to suffer such a fate, as some countries, including Haiti, Libya, Somalia, and six other Islamic-dominated countries, have already been banned from entry into the US. The ban was effected on Monday, June 9.

The entry of people from seven other countries - Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan, and Venezuela - have been partially restricted.This follows a directive issued on Wednesday, June 5, by U.S. President Donald Trump banning citizens of 12 countries from entering the United States, citing it as a move to protect his country from "foreign terrorists.”

The proclamation includes exceptions for lawful permanent residents, existing visa holders, certain visa categories, and individuals whose entry serves US national interests.