The number of Ghanaian students arriving in the United States in August fell by more than half compared with last year, marking the steepest post-pandemic decline in academic travel from Ghana.
Data tracked JoyNews Research, based on U.S. international arrival records, shows that only 1,561 Ghanaian students entered the country this August, compared with 3,185 in the same period last year. This represents a reduction of about 1,624 students, a 50.97% drop.
The decline coincides with a series of restrictive immigration policies introduced under the Trump administration. These include delays in visa processing, travel restrictions affecting 19 countries, and heightened scrutiny of student visa applicants.
The administration has also drawn criticism for threatening to deport international students who engage in pro-Palestinian activism.
The figures capture both new students entering the U.S. for the first time and returning students resuming studies after the summer break. Historically, August arrivals have been a reliable indicator of fall semester enrollments, as most students are permitted entry only 30 days before the start of their academic programs.
Until this year, the number of Ghanaians traveling to the U.S. for studies had been on a steady climb since the easing of COVID-19 restrictions. However, this year’s sharp fall mirrors a broader slowdown across all visa categories.
The total number of arrivals from Ghana for business, pleasure, and study fell from 7,224 in August 2024 to 5,502 this year, representing a 23.84% decline.
