New information gathered by GhanaWeb on Monday, 26th May, 2025, has revealed that the United States Embassy in Ghana is still charging visa applicants GHC16 for every dollar, even though the Ghana cedi has recently gained strength against the US dollar.
Some people who have applied for US visas say they are still being asked to pay GHC16 per dollar when making payments at the Embassy. This has caused concern among applicants, who are questioning why the Embassy has not adjusted the rate to match the cedi’s recent appreciation.
These applicants, who chose to remain unnamed, have called on the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, to step in and ask the US Embassy to reduce the exchange rate they are using for visa fees. They believe it is unfair for the Embassy to use the old rate when the cedi has clearly improved in value.
At the same time, the exchange rate for sending money from the United States to Ghana is about GHC11.50 per dollar. Experts have described the Ghana cedi as the world’s best-performing currency this month. Since April 2025 began, the cedi has gained almost 16% in value compared to the US dollar.
According to financial reports by Bloomberg, the cedi’s strong performance is helping to reduce inflation in Ghana. Inflation has now dropped to its lowest level in the past eight months.
The African Development Bank (AfDB) has praised Ghana’s efforts to stabilize its economy. In a recent report, the bank said Ghana’s focus on managing government spending and tightening monetary policies is helping to strengthen the cedi and lower inflation.
However, the AfDB also warned that more long-term changes are needed. It advised Ghana to diversify its economy so it is less affected by external problems.
