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0 The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration has opened talks with the US Embassy and Canadian High Commissions over visa arrangements for Ghanaian football fans following the qualification of the Black Stars to the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Technical Advisor to the Minister for Sports, Betty Krosbi Mensah, GFA President and CAF Vice President, Kurt Okraku and Senior Directors of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Sports, represented Ghana’s interests in these talks.
A group photo by attendees in the high profile meeting
The United States government was represented by the Acting Ambassador, Rolf Olson.
Acting Canadian High Commissioner, Dennis Roussel led the Canadian delegation.
Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, who confirmed this on his Facebook page, said “objectives of these engagements include ensuring there is mutual understanding of all sides on expectations and requirements, enhancing coordination, improving visa facilitation and developing clear working roadmaps to maximize satisfaction.”
GFA President Kurt Okraku (right) was also at the meeting
The meeting also discussed the need for special arrangements for football fans, officials and the team outside regular visa application processes.
Early this month, the United States government reversed restrictions on US visa ending the practice of single-entry visas.
This means Ghanaian fans can re-enter the US durung the World Cup after watching games in the two other host nations of Canada and Mexico.
According to Okudzeto, a similar engagement with officials from the Mexican Embassy will be held on Friday.
