According to the minister, the US authorities have disclosed that Ghana earned a spot on the list because we have a high student overstay rate (21%), over and above an acceptable 15 per cent threshold.

What this means, per my understanding, is that any restriction or travel ban imposed is more likely to exclusively target our applicants for US student visas.

I think a total ban or restriction for all Ghanaians seeking to travel to the US would be a bit of an overkill and I do not believe it will get to that.

However, it was not very clear from the minister’s disclosure whether the 21 per cent default rate was restricted to applicants who had entered the US on student visas, had failed to take up their studies and had disappeared into the system, and thus, remained in the country after their visas expired.

Alternatively, one wonders whether this default rate also includes those who had undertaken their studies there, pursuant to their US student visas, and had subsequently switched status on the basis of marriage or work permit to remain in the country, having been approved for same by the authorities.

My cautionary guess is that it is more likely to be the former scenario.

This is because I would find it difficult to align with a complaint that defaulters include those students who had been duly and lawfully issued with spouse or work visas after their studies, thus enabling their continued lawful presence in the US.

In any case, if visa defaulters were to include the latter category, then 21 per cent would be an extremely low rate, in my view. 

In his remarks on television on the matter, the foreign minister advised and cautioned prospective Ghanaian nationals seeking to study in the US to ensure respect for the country’s rules if granted student visas.

Whilst this call is no doubt the right thing to make, I doubt government can do much else, because obviously Ghana has no hand in visa issuance or in ensuring compliance with visa conditions abroad by its citizens.  

On Friday evening, as I waited to be interviewed by GhOne TV when it ran a news item on this issue featuring the minister’s call, among others, four young students were interviewed.

They were asked whether they would return to Ghana if they secured US student visas.

Three of them made it clear they had no intention of returning home in such a scenario, citing lack of employment opportunities and the economic situation in this country. 

The last interviewee, on the contrary, indicated that she would return home, citing her love for ‘Sunday Special’ as one of her reasons.

If this straw poll is anything to go by (which I think it is), it is perhaps a useful indication of the reality for many young people in our country today, especially within the context of the state’s challenges in addressing youth unemployment in general and graduate unemployment in particular.

I am not sure that the prospect of becoming undocumented in the US, along with the risk of being deported back home, is likely to deter those determined to remain there by all means, lawful and unlawful, if they get the opportunity to travel.

The lure of America in particular and the West in general, is understandably and firmly embedded in many young (and not so young) minds.

Perhaps, where government could make some impact is where it decides that it will not approve government scholarships for Ghanaians seeking to study in the US, because of our high risk of student visa default. But that would be a very dramatic step.

In any event, that still leaves those going under other forms of funding, including private funding and US university scholarships.

Beyond those who have defaulted on their visas and remain undocumented is the stark fact of our highly educated citizens abroad, who have legitimately switched from their student visas and are benefitting their host countries.

The 21st reality of today is that many countries have created an environment to aggressively attract the best talent from across the globe, through a combination of mouth-watering opportunities, including friendly visa regimes that could lead to naturalisation.

It is not enough to simply make appeals to our bright citizens who make rational decisions to respond to such draws after their studies abroad. Talent simply goes where it is wanted, appreciated and rewarded, and is not necessarily swayed by outbursts of patriotic fervour.

The 21st century global citizen is fluid and responsive to global flows and ebbs.

His or her citizenship and allegiance go beyond the country whose name is embossed on his or her passport.

Of course, we can and must look at the state doing more, not only to entice our students to come back home after their studies abroad, but also to attract other nationals with the right skill sets to be part of our growth.

This is certainly not a short-term conversation and requires deep, strategic thinking, otherwise we will forever be wringing our hands helplessly as the best of our citizens are poached by those who value them more.

Rodney Nkrumah-Boateng.
E-mail: [email protected]