Ghana’s Close Neighbor Among Countries Slapped With Travel Ban By US President Trump

• Togo is among the countries slapped with travel restrictions by the Trump administration
• US President Donald Trump signed a proclamation banning the citizens of 12 countries from entering the US and placing restrictions on seven others
• Togo is among the seven countries, including Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Turkmenistan and Venezuela

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Ghana’s neighbour to the East, Togo, is among the countries slapped with travel restrictions by the Trump administration.

US President Donald Trump signed a proclamation on Wednesday banning the citizens of 12 countries from entering the US.

He said the move was needed to protect against foreign security threats.

"We will not allow people to enter our country who wish to do us harm.”

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Reuters reported that the directive is part of an immigration crackdown Trump launched this year at the start of his second term.

The countries affected by the latest travel ban are Afghanistan, Myanmar, Chad, Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen.

Togo is among a further seven other countries, including Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Turkmenistan and Venezuela, that will be partially restricted.

Trump said in a video posted on X that the list could be revised and new countries could be added.

The proclamation will be effective on June 9, 2025, so visas issued before that date will not be revoked.

During his first term in office, Trump announced a ban on travellers from seven Muslim-majority nations, a policy that went through several iterations before it was upheld by the Supreme Court in 2018.

Former President Joe Biden, a Democrat who succeeded Trump, repealed that ban on nationals from Iran, Libya, Somalia, Syria and Yemen in 2021, calling it "a stain on our national conscience."

AUC responds to travel restrictions

The African Union Commission (AUC) expressed concern about the new travel restrictions on nationals from several African countries.

In a statement, the AUC appealed for a balanced and evidence-based approach, while acknowledging the US’s sovereign right to protect its borders and ensure citizen security.

The AUC expressed concerns that the travel restrictions could harm connections between individuals, educational exchanges, business relations, and overall diplomatic ties between the US and Africa.

The commission further highlighted the long-standing partnership between Africa and the US, which has been founded on shared goals of advancing peace, prosperity, and global collaboration.

"The Commission remains concerned about the potential negative impact of such measures on people-to-people ties, educational exchange, commercial engagement, and the broader diplomatic relations that have been carefully nurtured over decades. Africa and the United States share mutual interests in promoting peace, prosperity, and global cooperation."

Ghanaians abandon US Church of Pentecost branch

YEN.com.gh reported in February that a Church of Pentecost branch in the US was abandoned by some of its Ghanaian members because of deportation fears.

The district pastor of the Church of Pentecost USA Inc., North Columbus, Samuel Koomson, said that around half of his congregation was now staying home.

Aside from religious activities, the fear of deportation has also spread to educational spaces, with many concerned by the ongoing crackdown on immigrants.

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Proofreading by Samuel Gitonga, copy editor at YEN.com.gh.

Source: YEN.com.gh