A former Member of Parliament in Ghana, Ras Mubarak, has shared his disappointment after the United States Embassy gave him a 3-month visa instead of renewing his 5-year visa as he expected.What Happened?
Ras Mubarak recently tried to renew his U.S. visa, which had expired in January 2025. He had previously been given a visa that was valid for five years. But this time, the U.S. Embassy gave him a 3-month visa that allows him to enter the U.S. only once.
When he asked why this happened, the Embassy told him that it was because of new rules for people from Ghana. According to the new U.S. visa policy, Ghanaians will now receive only 3-month visas instead of 5-year ones, and those visas will only allow a single trip to the U.S.
Ras Mubarak’s Reaction
Ras Mubarak said he was unhappy about this change. He believes the new visa rule will hurt Ghanaians, especially those who travel for business, education, or tourism. Instead of making travel easier, the new policy makes it more stressful and expensive, because people will now have to apply more often for a visa.
Plans to Promote Visa-Free Travel in Africa
Despite the setback, Mubarak is not giving up. He says he is now focusing on Africa. He announced that he is leading a road trip across 39 African countries, starting August 18, to promote visa-free travel for Africans.
He believes that if African countries remove visa restrictions for each other, it will help grow local economies, create jobs, and give people more opportunities in Africa. He says if life in Africa improves, fewer people will want to move to the U.S. or Europe.
> “If we open up Africa and create good opportunities, who will want to leave this beautiful continent to go and overstay in the U.S. or Europe?” he asked.
He also mentioned that he has visited 85 countries, and this experience gives him a better understanding of how important freedom of movement is.
People React Online
After Mubarak shared his story on Facebook, many Ghanaians reacted. Some were surprised by the new visa rules, while others were angry or disappointed. Some said Ghana should also rethink how it gives visas to foreigners.
Many people supported Mubarak’s idea of building a visa-free Africa, saying it would help improve trade, tourism, and opportunities for youth.
Advice from U.S. Embassy Official
Meanwhile, the U.S. Consul General in Ghana, Elliot Fertik, gave some advice. He asked Ghanaians to make sure they follow the right steps when applying for a visa. He warned people not to use agents or middlemen who promise faster results, but often scam people or give false information.
He said people should always use official U.S. Embassy websites and follow all the rules carefully.
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Summary in Simple Points:
Ras Mubarak, a Ghanaian politician, applied to renew his U.S. visa.
He previously had a 5-year visa, but now was only given a 3-month, one-time entry visa.
The U.S. Embassy says it’s because of new rules for Ghanaian citizens.
Mubarak says this will make life harder for Ghanaians who want to travel for school, work, or tourism.
He plans to lead a road trip across Africa to promote visa-free movement within African countries.
He believes improving life in Africa will reduce the need for people to leave the continent.
Many Ghanaians online shared their thoughts — some agreed, some were upset about the new rules.
A U.S. official also reminded Ghanaians to use official visa channels and not to go through third-party.
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