The Honorary Consul of Ghana to Italy, Massimiliano Colasuonno Taricone, has boldly stated that Ghana’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has nothing to do with the US’s new guidelines.
Massimiliano Colasuonno Taricone heaped praises on Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa for doing an excellent job.
The United States government has revised its visa reciprocity policy for Ghana. The revision sees a reduction in both the validity period and the number of entries permitted for most non-immigrant visa categories.
Under the US’s new guidelines, Ghanaian nationals applying for business and tourism visas (B-class) will now be issued single-entry visas valid for just three months.
Ablakwa has since faced criticism from the NPP; however, Massimiliano Colasuonno Taricone emphasised that political interests often prevail over objective facts following the criticism being meted out to the Minister of Foreign Affairs.
According to him, Ablakwa has nothing to do with the US’s new guidelines that affected countries like Nigeria, Eritrea, Somalia, Togo, Tanzania, and Niger.
In a post on X, he wrote, “Unfortunately, political interests often prevail over objective facts. Our Minister of Foreign Affairs has nothing to do with this situation, which has also affected countries like Nigeria, Eritrea, Somalia, Togo, Tanzania, and Niger. The official reason given is “reciprocity,” which is a fundamental principle in diplomacy. Ghana, at most, grants foreign nationals a multi-entry tourist or visitor visa valid for 3 months.
But the real truth is that the high volume of forged documents and the percentage of people who overstay their visas end up punishing all the honest individuals who simply want to do business or enjoy a holiday”.
He added, “As usual, we blame the government when there’s Dumsor, rather than those who illegally connect to the power grid.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs, @S_OkudzetoAblak, is doing an excellent job, I see it firsthand on the ground. Let’s stand by him and direct our criticism at those whose dishonest behaviour harms all of us, not at those working in our best interest”.
His comment comes following Ghanaian actor Prince David Osei accusing Ablakwa of a Diplomatic Misstep.
Prince David Osei in a post on X wrote, “A Diplomatic Misstep with Real Consequences. Recent developments in Ghana’s diplomatic relations with the United States have left many citizens frustrated and disheartened. The shift from a five-year multiple-entry visa to a three-month single-entry visa for Ghanaians is more than just a bureaucratic change—it’s a significant setback for students, businesspeople, tourists, and families who rely on accessible travel to the U.S”.
He added, “At the heart of this issue is a troubling exchange between Ghana’s Foreign Minister and the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee. Rather than engaging in measured, diplomatic dialogue, the minister’s response came across as defensive and dismissive. His remarks—particularly the assertion that he personally did not incur debt—missed the broader point. The issue at hand is not about individual responsibility, but about the obligations of the Ghanaian government as a whole.
Diplomacy requires tact, humility, and strategic communication. Unfortunately, the tone and content of the minister’s remarks may have strained relations further, leading to consequences that now affect everyday Ghanaians. The already difficult process of securing a U.S. visa has become even more burdensome, with longer wait times and more frequent applications now required”.
“Contradictions in Messaging. What’s more concerning is the contradiction in messaging. On one hand, the minister invoked the legacy of Kwame Nkrumah and Ghana’s independence; on the other, he appealed for reparations from the colonial era. While both points are valid in their own right, presenting them in the same breath without a clear, cohesive strategy undermines the image of a sovereign nation capable of managing its own affairs”, he added.
See the post below:
Unfortunately, political interests often prevail over objective facts. Our Minister of Foreign Affairs has nothing to do with this situation, which has also affected countries like Nigeria, Eritrea, Somalia, Togo, Tanzania, and Niger. The official reason given is “reciprocity,”… https://t.co/Z9ySjmvyoS
— Consul of Ghana to Italy (@consoleghana) July 10, 2025