Ghana has initiated high-level diplomatic engagements with the governments of the United States and Canada to streamline visa arrangements for football fans ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, following the Black Stars’ qualification. Minister for Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Mr. Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, disclosed in a Facebook post on Wednesday, October 22, 2025, that he held separate meetings on Tuesday with representatives from the U.S. Embassy and the Canadian High Commission to explore visa facilitation measures for Ghanaian supporters travelling to North America for the tournament.
The Ghanaian delegation included Ms Betty Krosbi Mensah, Technical Advisor to the Minister for Youth and Sports; Ghana Football Association (GFA) President and CAF Vice President, Mr. Kurt Okraku; along with senior officials from the Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Sports. The American team was led by Acting US Ambassador Mr Rolf Olson, while Acting Canadian High Commissioner Mr Dennis Roussel headed the Canadian delegation.
Mr Ablakwa said the meetings aimed at creating a shared understanding of expectations and procedures, improving coordination, and developing clear working arrangements to make the visa process smoother for all parties involved. The discussions also covered special visa provisions for football fans, officials, and the national team, separate from the regular application channels.
According to the Minister, a key outcome of the discussions was the confirmation that the United States has lifted its previous visa restrictions on Ghanaian nationals, which had limited travel to single-entry visas. The revised policy now permits multiple-entry visas, allowing Ghanaian football fans to move freely between the United States, Canada, and Mexico throughout the duration of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. “Our Embassy friends and I are grateful to GFA President Kurt Okraku for the Black Stars replica jerseys,” Mr. Ablakwa shared in his post.
He added that a meeting with officials from the Mexican Embassy would take place on Friday. The 2026 FIFA World Cup will be jointly hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, marking the first time the tournament will be staged across three countries.
Source: Mohammed Ali
