Ablakwa Engages US And Canadian Officials on Visa Arrangements for Ghanaian Fans Ahead Of 2026 World Cup

Ghana Relations

Ghana’s Minister for Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Hon. Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has initiated high-level discussions with officials from the United States Embassy and the Canadian High Commission to explore visa facilitation arrangements for Ghanaian football fans, following the Black Stars’ qualification to the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

The crucial meetings, held shortly after Ghana sealed its ticket to the global tournament, brought together key stakeholders from both the foreign affairs and sports sectors. The Ghanaian delegation included the Technical Advisor to the Minister for Youth and Sports, Hon. Betty Krosbi Mensah, Ghana Football Association (GFA) President and CAF Vice President, Mr. Kurt E.S. Okraku, as well as senior directors from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Youth and Sports.

Diplomats

On the diplomatic side, the US delegation was led by Acting Ambassador Rolf Olson, while the Canadian team was headed by Acting High Commissioner Dennis Roussel. Both envoys expressed their readiness to work closely with Ghana to ensure a smooth and coordinated visa process for fans, players, and officials traveling for the World Cup.

According to Hon. Ablakwa, the purpose of the engagements was to establish a shared understanding of expectations, streamline coordination between the parties, and develop practical roadmaps to enhance satisfaction for all involved. Discussions also highlighted the importance of introducing special visa arrangements outside the regular processes to cater specifically to football fans, officials, and the national team.

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A key highlight of the meeting was the acknowledgment of the recent reversal of the US single-entry visa policy — a development described as timely and beneficial. This new policy will now allow Ghanaian fans holding multiple-entry visas to travel freely between the three host nations — the United States, Canada, and Mexico — during the tournament.

Hon. Ablakwa, who shared moments of camaraderie with his diplomatic counterparts, expressed gratitude to GFA President Kurt Okraku for presenting Black Stars replica jerseys to the embassy teams as a gesture of goodwill and national pride.

The Foreign Affairs Minister further disclosed that similar engagements will be held with officials of the Mexican Embassy on Friday to finalize arrangements covering all three host nations.

As the excitement builds toward the 2026 FIFA World Cup, these diplomatic moves mark a proactive step to ensure Ghanaian fans can cheer on the Black Stars with ease across North America.