Foreign Affairs Minister, Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, has downplayed suggestions that Ghana should retaliate the visa sanctions imposed on the country by the U.S.

“Are you dealing at arm’s length [with the U.S.], there are more Ghanaians

than Americans wanting to come here… In diplomacy there is reciprocity but it is always guarded. You have to look at the circumstances before you take certain actions,” She told media on Wednesday, 13 February 2019.

Ms Botchwey was responding to comments by the Member of Parliament (MP) for Kumbungu, Ras Mubarak that the government of Ghana should fight the U.S.’s bullying posture.

However, the Foreign Affairs Minister explained that they would rather work together with the U.S. government to ensure that the sanctions are lifted.

She added that Ghana and the U.S. are key allies and do not need any actions that will strain the relationship between the two countries.

The two countries are at a stalemate over the deportation of some 7,000 Ghanaians who have been deported by the U.S.

“Ghana has failed to live up to its obligations under international law to accept the return of its nationals removed from the United States,” Secretary of Homeland Security Kirstjen Nielsen said in a press statement while announcing the visa sanctions.

“Without an appropriate response from Ghana, the scope of these sanctions may be expanded to a wider population. The sanctions will remain in place until the Secretary of Homeland Security notifies Secretary Pompeo that cooperation on removals has improved to an acceptable level,” the American statement added.