The Tour Operators Union of Ghana (TOUGHA) has expressed serious concern about prolonged visa processing delays at the Ghana Embassy in Washington, D.C., warning that the situation is negatively affecting tourism and threatening the survival of member businesses.
In an official statement, TOUGHA President Yvonne Donkor highlighted that numerous passports submitted for visa processing have been held for weeks without any communication, leaving many travellers stranded and anxious about their plans.
“Over the past several weeks, an alarming number of passports submitted for visa processing at the Ghana Embassy in Washington, D.C. have reportedly remained unreturned.
“Travellers, many of whom have long-standing plans to visit Ghana for cultural heritage, tourism, business and family purposes, are left in limbo, uncertain about travel dates, unable to retrieve their passports, and deeply frustrated by the lack of clear communication”, the statement said.
The delays, which coincide with the peak summer travel season and the rise of the “Back to Africa” heritage movement, have led to widespread tour cancellations, financial losses, and reputational damage for Ghanaian tour operators.
“Ghana has earned a reputation as a leading heritage tourism destination, especially for the African American community and diaspora,” she stated.
Donkor called on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to take urgent steps to resolve the backlog, improve communication with affected applicants, and establish a task force to expedite visa processing for those with imminent departures.
She emphasized that the situation, if left unaddressed, could tarnish Ghana’s image as a top heritage tourism destination. Nonetheless, she reaffirmed TOUGHA’s commitment to promoting Ghana as an open and welcoming destination for global travellers.
Full statement below:
